3-D CAD : Learning the essentials of a 3-dimensional solid modeling program

SolidWorks® is a 3-dimensional solid modeling program which means that it allows you to create solid bodies ( consisting maybe of many different parts ) on the computer complete with dimensioning and tolerancing. These bodies can be viewed in 3-dimensional space from different angles and with different renderings. It also allows you to create the classical orthogonal views.

SolidWorks® stores all data concerning a particular body on computer disks as files which can be re-read at a later point in time. You can create folders for these files in your pass space as well as your desktop. But notice that these files cannot be viewed on any browser or with a text editor nor word processor, only with program Solidworks®. But you can save away views of created parts in jpg-format to be viewed on webpages.

For those of us who have never used the SolidWorks program it is probaly a good idea to first go through some of the lessons of the on-line tutorial. To get there :

HELP → Online Tutorial

For some of the lessons of this tutorial here is some additional help :