badjeff

badjeff / trackpuck

Public

6 DoF input peripheral designed for CAD

3d-printing 6dof bluetooth cad pointing-device
22
1
100% credibility
Found Mar 10, 2026 at 16 stars -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
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AI Analysis
AI Summary

Trackpuck is an open-source hardware project for building a wireless, 6-degree-of-freedom joystick peripheral to improve navigation in CAD software like Fusion 360.

How It Works

1
🔍 Discover Trackpuck

You find this cool gadget idea while looking for better ways to move around in 3D design programs like CAD.

2
🛒 Gather Your Parts

You buy the list of small pieces like sensors, switches, battery, and wires from online shops.

3
🖨️ Print the Shell

You use a 3D printer to make the lightweight plastic body that holds everything together.

4
🔧 Put It All Together

With steady hands and a soldering iron, you carefully assemble the sensors, springs, and switches inside the shell.

5
⚙️ Wake It Up

You load the special instructions that make the gadget sense movements and act like a joystick.

6
🔗 Connect and Test

You pair it wirelessly with your computer and feel it respond smoothly to twists and pushes.

7
🛠️ Add to Your Design App

You install a simple helper in your CAD software to use the gadget for orbiting, panning, and zooming.

🎉 Design Like a Pro

Now you glide effortlessly through complex 3D models, making CAD work feel natural and fun.

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Star Growth

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AI-Generated Review

What is trackpuck?

Trackpuck delivers a wireless 6 DoF input peripheral designed for CAD, tracking position and orientation via magnetometers and outputting as a standard HID joystick. It tackles imprecise 3D navigation in tools like Fusion 360, enabling smooth orbit, pan, zoom, and rotation through companion add-ins. Powered by open-source ZMK firmware on a Seeed XIAO BLE board, users get a lightweight, low-profile device with 3D-printable parts.

Why is it gaining traction?

This 6 DoF GitHub project hooks makers with rigid, medium-small sizing, no vendor lock-in, and on-device profiling via ZMK. A BOM, build tips, and web simulators for magnetometer tracking plus HID testing make prototyping accessible. Wireless HID joystick output integrates seamlessly into CAD without drivers.

Who should use this?

CAD modelers in Fusion 360 needing fluid 6 DoF input over mouse controls. ZMK veterans who've built wireless keyboards and can solder sensors, puzzle assemblies, and tweak rates. Skip if you're new to hardware—demands sharp eyes and tools.

Verdict

With 13 stars and 1.0% credibility score, trackpuck is raw DIY territory: strong gallery and BOM but light on beginner docs and zero tests. Prototype it for custom CAD input if you've got the skills; otherwise, hold for community polish.

(178 words)

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