The software was created by TEDATA, GMBH, a German company that has a long history of producing such software for professional use throughout Europe and many other parts of the world. The version included with this book has 32 modules that have general applicability or that were produced specially for the book, following the analysis and design methods presented in the book, most of which are patterned on methods and standards commonly used in the United States.

The other 34 modules were developed primarily for use by professionals and conform to common practice in Europe as represented by DIN standards, VDI publications, and the popular reference book on machine elements often called Roloff/Matek Machine Elements, written by Herbert Wittel, Dieter Muhs, Dieter Jannasch, and Joachim Vobiek and published by Vieweg+Teubner, Wiesbasen, Germany, 2009.

The other 34 modules are denoted by the symbol &and are more closely aligned to European standards. They may use terminology, notations, and symbols unfamiliar to those experienced primarily in U.S.-based practices. It is important to note that the inclusion of this extensive and diverse set of modules can be useful to users of this book throughout the world as a means of expanding the breadth of knowledge of design practices in different regions.

Furthermore, many users of the book are likely to engage in projects with industrial companies, design services, consultants, and university faculty members from many parts of the world and having these modules available can aid in communicating across traditional geographic boundaries and between different technical cultures.

Advice on Use of the MDESIGN Software The following comments are directed primarily to those using this book as a learning tool either in college and university degree programs or in professional self-study.