CNC Newbie with questions

[RockyRR]

I've been a woodworker for many years. I'd like to now get into carving/cutting using a CNC router. Right now I'm considering 2 options:

1. Buy a CarveWright machine, or
2. Build a CNC machine from a kit from www.buildyourcnc.com.

I'd prefer the 2nd option, but I'm not sure about the learning curve to use the software (e.g., Mach3, etc.), although I was a programmer in my earlier life.

I'd like to find software similar to theCarveWright Designer (for CarveWright only) software to use to drive a CNC router, but I haven't found any.

I'd appreciate any feedback/suggestions from you folks.

Thanks,
Rocky

[Cartierusm]

Well everything depends on the accuracy you want, the amount of money you want to spend and how quickly you want it completed.

As far as Control software, Mach 3 is awesome and very very easy to use once you understand a few things, pretty much point and click.

For designing software I've never seen Carveright, but I started out using Artcam when I knew nothing. It's very noob friendly but very expensive.

[RockyRR]

Originally Posted by Cartierusm Well everything depends on the accuracy you want, the amount of money you want to spend and how quickly you want it completed. As far as Control software, Mach 3 is awesome and very very easy to use once you understand a few things, pretty much point and click. For designing software I've never seen Carveright, but I started out using Artcam when I knew nothing. It's very noob friendly but very expensive.

Thanks! You're right, Art is expensive.

Rocky