Hello Howard,
Alibre is a Cad program only, it's a very capable cad program but if you want the Cam plugin it's big money.
I prefer Rhinoceros for Cad design, it's very powerful but yet easy to use and if bought on a student license quit cheap, it also as a very good cam plugin but that is Bigmoney as well.
I made a BIG BIG mistake and purchased Bobcad camv23, it's rubbish and fully recommend you stay away.
It's toolpath 2d stratagies are poor, 3Dtoolpaths are a joke, it crash's for fun the tool table's are a joke, the post processors(Mach3) are rubbish and dangerous if not checked and modified. I could go on but wont and just say stay away.!!
I think you'll be better with Alibre or Rhinoceros for designing then importing into VcarvePro and use it's cam feature's.
Vcarve is probably the best for your application toolpath wise but it's maybe a little limiting or harder on the design side.? . . . . Vcarve user's will put you straight on that comment i'm sure.!
Good luck.