Book excerpt: The SolidWorks 2015 Reference Guide is a comprehensive reference book written to assist the beginner to intermediate user of SolidWorks 2015. SolidWorks is an immense software package, and no one book can cover all topics for all users. This book provides a centralized reference location to address many of the tools, features and techniques of SolidWorks 2015. This book covers the following: System and Document propertiesFeatureManagersPropertyManagersConfigurationManagersRenderManagers2D and 3D Sketch toolsSketch entities3D Feature toolsMotion StudySheet MetalMotion StudySolidWorks SimulationPhotoView 360Pack and Go3D PDFsIntelligent Modeling techniques3D printing terminology and more Chapter 1 provides a basic overview of the concepts and terminology used throughout this book using SolidWorks 2015 software. If you are completely new to SolidWorks, you should read Chapter 1 in detail and complete Lesson 1, Lesson 2 and Lesson 3 in the SolidWorks Tutorials. If you are familiar with an earlier release of SolidWorks, you still might want to skim Chapter 1 to become acquainted with some of the commands, menus and features that you have not used; or you can simply jump to any section in any chapter. Each chapter provides detailed PropertyManager information on key topics with individual stand-alone short tutorials to reinforce and demonstrate the functionality and ease of the SolidWorks tool or feature. The book provides access to over 240 models, their solutions and additional support materials. Learn by doing, not just by reading. Formulate the skills to create, modify and edit sketches and solid features. Learn the techniques to reuse features, parts and assemblies through symmetry, patterns, copied components, design tables, configurations and more. The book is designed to compliment the Online Tutorials and Online Help contained in SolidWorks 2015. The goal is to illustrate how multiple design situations and systematic steps combine to produce successful designs. The author developed the tutorials by combining his own industry experience with the knowledge of engineers, department managers, professors, vendors and manufacturers. He is directly involved with SolidWorks every day and his responsibilities go far beyond the creation of just a 3D model.