Another Newbie Says Hello

[Dr_Pushrod]

Hi Everyone,

I'm going to make the switch from lurking to being a little more active. I don't currently have any CNC equipment in my home shop, but I'm doing a lot of looking/reading and a little learning along the way. I've got some experience with maching having spent my childhood and into my 20's working in my Dad's machine shop. We got our first CNC lathe in 1984...ran on punched tape!

I'd like to take the plunge at some point to get some ideas purged from my head - but I'm a long way back on what I need to know. I've begun playing with Google Sketchup for some designs - but it's pretty useless for mechanical parts that are complicated. I'm going to give Solid Works a try - but it's probably more than I need and may well be too complicated.

So if anyone has suggestions on how to get the ideas into G-Code that would be most welcome.

[etjoe]

Have you tried Rhino? I use it and I love it.
To get G-Code, I use a CAM program and load it up with my Rhino drawing.