INTRODUCTION TO SOLIDWORKS 2016

Welcome to the world of Computer Aided Design (CAD) with SOLIDWORKS. If you are a new user
of this software package, you will be joining hands with thousands of users of this parametric, feature-based, and one of the most user-friendly software packages. If you are familiar with the previous releases of this software, you will be able to upgrade your designing skills with this improved release of SOLIDWORKS.
SOLIDWORKS, developed by the SOLIDWORKS Corporation, USA, is a feature-based, parametric
solid-modeling mechanical design and automation software. SOLIDWORKS is the first CAD package
to use the Microsoft Windows graphic user interface. The use of the drag and drop (DD) functionality
of Windows makes this CAD package extremely easy to learn. The Windows graphic user interface makes it possible for the mechanical design engineers to innovate their ideas and implement them in
the form of virtual prototypes or solid models, large assemblies, subassemblies, and detailing and
drafting.

SOLIDWORKS is one of the products of SOLIDWORKS Corporation, which is a part of Dassault
Systemes. SOLIDWORKS also works as platform software for a number of software. This implies
that you can also use other compatible software within the SOLIDWORKS window. There are a
number of software provided by the SOLIDWORKS Corporation, which can be used as add-ins with
SOLIDWORKS. Some of the software that can be used on SOLIDWORKS’s work platform are listed

below

SOLIDWORKS Motion SOLIDWORKS Routing ScanTo3D eDrawings
SOLIDWORKS Simulation SOLIDWORKS Toolbox PhotoView 360 CircuitWorks
SOLIDWORKS Plastics SOLIDWORKS Inspection TolAnalyst
As mentioned earlier, SOLIDWORKS is a parametric, feature-based, and easy-to-use mechanical
design automation software. It enables you to convert the basic 2D sketch into a solid model by using
simple but highly effective modeling tools. It also enables you to create the virtual prototype of a
sheet metal component and the flat pattern of the component. This helps you in the complete process
planning for designing and creating a press tool. SOLIDWORKS helps you to extract the core and the
cavity of a model that has to be molded or cast. With SOLIDWORKS, you can also create complex
parametric shapes in the form of surfaces. Some of the important modes of SOLIDWORKS are
discussed next.