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Want to use the controls you’re used to from other design tools with Fusion? Well, guess what, you can! Learn how to set your zoom, pan, and orbit controls.

Whether you’re transitioning from another CAD platform or are new to Fusion, understanding and customizing your controls—pan, zoom, and orbit—is key to a productive workflow. With Fusion you can tailor these controls to match the CAD software environment you know best, significantly easing your learning curve and keeping you in the creative zone.

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Why customize view controls in Fusion?

We recognize that many designers and engineers have experience with platforms like SolidWorks, Inventor, Tinkercad, or Alias. Rather than forcing you into a single mouse-and-keyboard setup, Fusion lets you adapt its pan, zoom, and orbit commands to what’s familiar for you. For newcomers, the default Fusion options are intuitive and quickly become second nature.

How to change pan, zoom, and orbit shortcuts

1. Access your preferences
   In Fusion, click your username (profile icon) in the upper right and select Preferences.
2. Navigate to pan, zoom, orbit shortcuts
   In the Preferences window, under the General tab, find the Pan, Zoom, Orbit Shortcuts dropdown.
3. Choose your CAD platform
   Here you’ll find multiple presets:
   • Fusion (default)SolidWorksInventorTinkercadAliasPowerMill
   Simply select your preferred preset—your navigation commands instantly update for all future sessions.

Shortcut reference table

Here’s a quick look at how each preset configures your pan, zoom, and orbit commands:

*MMB = Middle Mouse Button

You can also assign or revert to these shortcuts manually within the preferences window for granular control.

Enhanced customization and tips

• Reverse zoom direction: Change whether scrolling up zooms in or out, helpful if you’re used to a different “scroll feel” from another program.
• Camera pivot: Switch between orbiting around the window’s center or the focal point of your part or assembly for a smoother modeling experience.
• Gesture-based input: If you’re on a Mac with a trackpad or Magic Mouse, enable gesture-based navigation for intuitive swiping and pinching controls.
• Named views: Save custom view angles for fast toggling between important positions—especially useful for renders or presentations.
• ViewCube: Use the ViewCube widget in the top-right of your workspace to snap to standard views, assign new top/front perspectives, or reorient with minimal mouse movement.

Troubleshooting and best practices

• Lost model? Double-click the mouse wheel or use the ViewCube to “zoom to fit,” recovering your model instantly.
• Laptop/Trackpad users: If you lack a middle mouse button, try the Inventor preset—F2, F3, and F4 keys combined with the left mouse button let you pan, zoom, and orbit, respectively.
• Missing blender preset? Blender isn’t available, but Tinkercad or SolidWorks options are the closest alternatives by default.

Fusion’s approach to customizable controls shows real consideration for user experience, whether you’re seasoned in other CAD software or new to 3D design. With flexible navigation presets, view management tools, and advanced tweaks like gesture recognition and camera behavior, you’ll find manipulating your models easier and more natural.

Take a moment to explore the Preferences menu and make the workspace yours—smooth navigation can dramatically improve productivity and reduce frustration during complex design tasks.

Ready to make Fusion feel like home? Jump in, set your orbit/pan/zoom preferences, and let your ideas take shapeape.