I have been given a copy of Solidworks 2001 but have been unable to get it to work on my PC, it just freezes, can anybody suggest any simple CAD software that I can use to model a chassis and body work

Most 3D cad packages work in roughly the same way, so you will get lots of suggestions about which is better, but as you have a copy of SW then that has decided for you really.

Is it a legit copy? If so it needs a dongle to work. If not then you need a dongle emulator or cracking patch.

do you have any 3D cad experience? its not really the kind of thing you can just stumble your way through and i would suggest a chassis would not be an easy first project. But good luck anyway

It wont so much be the chassis that'll be a bit challenging, the nosecone is where you're going to need a fair bit of 3D CAD know how. It all depends what you actualy want to use the model for as to what would be best - if you want to do accurate working drawings then Solidworks would be ideal - if it's general design visualisations then 3d Max would be better and easier especialy for shaping the bodywork.

If you know where to look on the interweb you might 'come across' a copy of either and the relevent software fixes to get them to work - so I've been told obviously

If you look about you can also find quite a few 7 type CAD blocks as well - Flakmonkey (spelling!?) from this list has a web site which is a good starting place if you haven't been there already

For surfaces you will find Rhino3d to be a better bet than Solidworks.

Horses for courses..Solidworks is near the best for solid modelling. Rhino doesn't do solids, but is fantastic at surfaces. Neither of those do 2d as good as Autocad.

Hence, I use all three.

Cheers,
Syd.

if u can get hold of a copy of solidworks 2005 or higher u get a program called DWG editor, this is solidworks's 2d program. its just the same as autocad. and i mean the SAME!.

Pro e wildfire is probably the best about at the moment but not the quickest bit of kit to learn.

try Ironcad, i saw this at Mach this year and recon it will be the next big thing

ProE is frustration on a stick though, especialy when you're learning it..........and even then it's hardly friendly

AutoCad 2007 is quite interesting as they've nicked a good few bits of 3Dmax for the 3D modelling - but then I sit in front of a computer using AutoCad all day so I know it inside out and upside down.