Sheet metal bending software recommendations?

Anyone got some advice?
What software actually works for sheet metal design—stuff like roofing, corrugated panels, or even PC cases—where you can actually account for material thickness and bend radii?
I need something that spits out flat patterns and bending layouts so I can actually build the damn things.
And can it handle load calculations for stuff like corrugated steel?

Right now I’m messing around with SolidWorks (just starting out), so what kind of rig do I need to run this without it crashing constantly?

Thanks

I don't know much about those specific software packages, but I do know you'll need a machine just like a graphic designer would use.

A powerful processor with a 64-bit architecture and plenty of RAM.

Like Povie said in his post... you're looking at a beast of a processor, a massive amount of RAM, and a solid graphics card. And if you're actually serious about getting into this, don't skimp on the display—get yourself a high-end monitor.

The GPU isn't even that critical here. An average one will do since you don't need massive FPS.

I built a rig just like that for about $300, and man, it runs like a dream.

That’s my living room setup. It basically serves as a "media center."
It’s got a 500GB HDD and 3GB of RAM, though I ended up installing 32-bit Windows XP because I didn't have the 64-bit installer on hand back then. :slap:

AutoCAD.....
A decent graphics card is pretty much non-negotiable here; without one, you’re going to find yourself hitting a wall with half the features missing...
If you check the official AutoCAD documentation, they actually provide a specific list of recommended cards—the ones that work smoothly—versus those that might technically run the software but won't support all the functionality...
I’d suggest staying away from any cards that aren't on that approved list, because if you try to force it, the program just isn't going to perform properly...
I should probably mention, though, that AutoCAD is incredibly expensive, and finding a graphics card that actually supports all the necessary features isn't exactly cheap either...