Building CNC mill Machine. Need Advice

[Marek13]

Hello, My first post here.
I need some advise from you CNC experts.
I am planning to Build or Buy Small CNC machine. I started making Jig and lure molds from Aluminum, and until recently I was casting my mold from Master Mold, which was very limited. Now, after bit of research I realized that CNC would stretch my horizon and made my molds more accurate and detailed.
Now the hard part. BUY or BUILD. I was looking to get mill from Grizzly http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0463 and get stepper motors and Board.
My father's friend who works on CNC full time offers help with putting it together.
But then I saw few Taig CNC on ebay for about 1400. Also I was looking at ARTCAM software from ARTCAM.Com and looks like I can cut mold cavities in aluminum and size them too.
I guess I need your advise as to which way should I get and maybe some suggestions as to which software should I get to fabricate this type of molds.
Thanks in advance for any honest advise

[ger21]

ArtCAM is about $7000, in case you were wondering.

[Marek13]

Originally Posted by ger21 ArtCAM is about $7000, in case you were wondering.

Oosp/ I was waiting for their response /quote-thanks for heads up.
Can you guys’ recommend CNC software that would work with Hobby CNC to design and cut molds? I am planning on spending no more that 3000 total CNC plus Software
Thanks you

[ger21]

MeshCAM might do what you want, www.meshcam.com

You'll also need a 3D CAD program. Rhino is a popular choice, for the money. www.rhino3d.com

[cut more]

Marek,
Have you looked at BOBcad? I have had good luck with my seat (version 20). I have not found anything I can't do with it yet. I have a cnc router/ plasma combo. The software is inexpensive but can do a lot.

[bpmufx]

Hi guys,
1st post here for me, but I would not go with a CAM app that will not machine STL files for the type of work MAREK13 sounds like he's doing. Since there may be more 3d models coming from him than MCAD parts, the likelyhood of needing to convert a OBJ is easiest to go to STL. If this were the case, Rhino is a good choice as it can work with OBJ files, and Mecsoft is now Rhinos new CNC partner with Visualmill, which machines STL files. MeshCAM looks like it would do the trick too.