I am looking to learn a CAD package for trying to get some of my basic paper designs into electronic form. I very comfortable using computers (its my job) but havent used a CAD package before. What would be a good one to start with? I would mainly be trying to design bodywork at first.
Bodywork is very difficult to draw in CAD. Even if you know what you are doing! 
3 dimensional curved surfaces are quite hard to define, and the
easiest way is to loft a solid through a series of cross sections, the more cross sections you have, the better the shape will be.
I would suggest you try to get hold of a copy of solidworks and start off by drawing up some simple stuff. Then progress onto bodywork design.
Or you could get hold of 3ds max which is pretty good for arty stuff.
David
As Flak says, bodywork is tough to get right. He's far better at CAD than I will ever be. I use Prodesktop all day everyday and teach it to 12
yearolds upwards. Very easy to start with and capable of very good complex shapes, but the ability to shape flat surfaces is limited. U2U me and I can
put you in touch with a copy if your interested.
Some years ago I bought the AutoDesk Mechanical Desktop release 4 which I used for designing distillation plant. It was absolutely excellent for 3D
drawing. Unfortunately it needs Windows 95 to operate it so now for me it is useless.
It it of any use to anybody?
John
Flak Monkey is too modest to show an example of Prodesktop from his site so I will instead !
quote:
Originally posted by ayoungman
Flak Monkey is too modest to show an example of Prodesktop from his site so I will instead !
Looks like formula student to me! Am i right?! 
I would def go for solidworks to start off with - its very easy to teach yourself - thats what i've done!
If you know something about newsgroup, you perhaps can still download a full version of 3ds max with the following link.
It also inclused the 3ds max bible (complete ebook about how to use the program) and a very nice movie about how to shape a car.
Success
http://yabse.com/asearch.php?q=3dsmax9%2Dfull%2Dcollection&group=alt.binaries.boneless&sizetype=least&size=&age=all&sort=drf
I too teach Pro/DESKTOP day in day out...
We've just been told we moving to Pro/E and getting free training.
Solidworks is what you need though!
Cheers
As a basi user of Solidworks I find it easy to use and very effective but as stated its not easy but worth the while...
It's also available illegally free if you know where to look...
Seabass, I'd be interested in how you get along with that, I've been considering trialling it myself.
Ta from Alan
http://www.a9tech.com/
very similar to autocad
Ok, obtained a copy of Solidworks 2006 so will have a play. Also got the "Solidworks for dummies" book on the way.
Does anyone have any solidworks files they could send me of basic cars? I think this will help me learn the software by being able to pull
"apart" something already created.
Thanks
Sure I can find you something, maybe not a car though