It is important for designers and engineers to be able to explain their 3D models to other teams or manufacturers. This could be for the purpose of reviewing or manufacturing. In this chapter, we will learn how to use SOLIDWORKS' drawing tools. We will cover how to generate simple drawings with orthogonal views, how to communicate dimensions and drawing information, and how to export drawings as shareable images or PDFs. By the end of this chapter, you will be able to generate simple engineering drawings to explain your design to individuals or groups that are not SOLIDWORKS users. 

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

• Opening a SOLIDWORKS drawing file
• Generating orthographic and isometric views
• Communicating dimensions and design
• Utilizing the drawing sheet's information block
• Exporting the drawing as a PDF or image