With the information gleaned here at the zone and the replies to my help requests, my X3 actually moves! I started the CNC conversion the first of the year with a kit from Syil America, and expected to be up and running in 30 days. The mechanical/electrical conversion was such a wonderful experience and then came the software part. I struggled with that for months and came to a dead end after going over and over the installation/setup.

Yesterday, my son came over to look at Dad's project. He checked out the CNC Zone, reloaded the Mach3 software, checked it all out and called me to come out to the garage to see all three stepper motors turning at the same time!

He is ready to help me with the next step and I'm remembering diverse opinions out there on CAD/CAM. Thinking of getting TurboCAD and want to cut house numbers from wood and plastic to start with. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks again,
delwood

You might also what to try out Alibre http://www.alibre.com/xpress/software/alibre-design-xpress.asp

Also if you are going to do house signs and things of such Vcarve might be better for you http://www.vectric.com

If you need just a 2d cad program I have free2design and like it and have also used cadstd.

All of these are free except for vectric but its also more of a cam than a cad.