What program do you recommend?

[98Blazer]

I have had the opportunity to use several CAD programs through school. I'm going to be getting a laptop soon. I have used solid works, catia, mastercam. I have heard bend tech is a good program for the money, I would like a program that works good for drawing up frames, allows the suspension to be cycled, and draw up plate work. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

This is something I drew up on sketch-up.

[NEbuggy]

Inventor is pretty good but very expensive. Solidworks is in my opinion one of the best and easiest to work with. Youll have to use a simulator inside the program to cycle suspension most likely. You ALWAYS want to have your model constrained correctly to ensure everything is where it needs to be. I havnt used bendtech but was thinking of buying it to try it out. If it is really good with frame work that might be the way to go. The bigger programs are a little finicky with tubing drawings and models.