For all you bike designers

Question

I want to design a bike frame using CAD. My only problem is that i don't know what program to use. i go to a voc tech school and take engineering so i can get all of the Autodesk programs for free. Which autodesk program should i use?

i currently know only how to use Autodesk inventor but could learn other programs if necessary

Answer 1

I guess that I need more clarification... do you want to DESIGN a frame or just draw a picture of a frame that may or may not work?

If you want to just draw a picture, any program will do. I use AutoCAD 2000. If you want to DESIGN, then the drawing part is secondary. You'll need to determine what you want to use it for, target weight, material, and then start to develop a concept around it. Butted tubes? Straight gauge tubes? Formed? Geometry? There are a zillion things you need to thing about before making a drawing.

It usually takes me between 3 and 10 months to produce concepts that I transform into a drawing, then another 5 months to a year to prototype and test. The drawing part is the fun and easy thing.