How to Use This Book

This book is designed to introduce the SolidWorks software as well as provide tutorials for modeling parts, assemblies, and completing drawings from the mechanical designer’s perspective. It is also designed to prepare students for earning the SolidWorks Associate Certificate. If you are new to SolidWorks and 3D design altogether, it is recommended that you read through both theoretical and tutorial portions of the text.

The table of contents contains links to each chapter, but if you want to find a more specific topic, use “Search in Book” option at the top right of this page.

This book is organized into chapters and each chapter has sections that help focus the reader on chunks of material at a time. At the beginning of each part will be a list of objectives the author has for the mechanical design student. At the end of most chapters is a video tutorial and self assessment that will give you an opportunity to practice what you’ve just read about.

Throughout the book, new terms called glossary terms will be highlighted. You can then click on the terms to see a definition as well as links to new information. These glossary terms are also listed in the back of the text.