Through the CAD/CAM initiative, UK schools have had their first taste of 3D CAD software, and D&T has undoubtedly benefited as a result. With this in mind the time is now right for schools to look for the best possible 3D software for their students. Whilst full 3D CAD software of this type is always going to be for older more able students, good software should always make access easier. In our opinion SolidWorks offers students and teachers the best way forward in developing their use of 3D CAD. SolidWorks Education Edition provides both students and teachers with unmatched power, combined with an industry leading easy learning curve. So if you are committed to full 3D design but are finding that your current software is too difficult for your students (and you!) to get their heads round, now is the time to look at a state of the art solution, and to see how intuitive 3D design software can really be.

• SolidWorks 3D CAD Software : the standard in 3D mechanical design software which allows users to create full 3D models. The software has unrivalled performance and ease-of-use, including familiar Windows functions like drag-and-drop, point-and-click and cut-and-paste. “Heads-up” user interaction makes the software even more user friendly, by minimalising visual clutter and reducing the number of design steps through intuitive work flow.
  
  
• PhotoWorks™ : create photorealistic images of SolidWorks models
  
  
• SolidWorks Toolbox: automate assembly tasks with a library of standard parts
  
  
• SolidWorks® Animator : create compelling AVI files from SolidWorks parts and assemblies
  
  
• eDrawings Professional:  Generate accurate representations of 2D and 3D models that anyone can view, mark up, and measure without having to purchase their own markup tools
  
  
• FeatureWorks:  Simplify the reuse of 3D CAD data-created in varied file formats
  
  
• SolidWorks Utilities:  analyze designs and compare different versions of a design
  
  
• 3D Instant Website:  quickly make a website featuring your design
  
  
• DWGeditor™ : Edit and create native DWG drawings using DWGeditor installed inside SolidWorks—users familiar with AutoCAD® will find the
  user interface very familiar.
  
  
• COSMOSXpress™: the point-and-click stress analysis wizard built into SolidWorks 3D modelling software. For teachers and students with no previous virtual simulation experience, COSMOSXpress guides you step-by-step through the design validation process - allowing you to explore the benefits of first-pass design checks without any cost.
  
  
• MoldflowXpress™: Unique to SolidWorks, this provides an introductory mould filling analysis tool to assist plastic part designers to develop parts that can be moulded easily and cost effectively.
  
  
• PDMWorks: Minimize errors and duplicated efforts by capturing file revision histories automatically. Access desired files, determine who has worked on them, and see exactly when changes were made.
  
  
• COSMOSWorks™
  Finite element analysis (FEA).
  
  
• COSMOSMotion™
  Kinematics and motion analysis.
  
  
• COSMOSFloWorks™
  Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and thermal analysis. The example on the right shows the results of aerodynamic analysis on a CO2 Car (see Design Projects, below).