Software for absolue CAD and CNC neophyte

[endgrainguy]

I'm a full time woodworker (mostly high end jewelry boxes, see www.alladd.com) who's biting the bullet, and thanks to the enticements presented on this here site, building himself a CNC router -an odd fixed gantry, moving table affair with ability to tilt router from vertical to horizontal, to be used for joinery (mortise and tenon, through, half-blind and tapered sliding dovetails) in horizontal mode, and inlay work in usual configuration. Moving table will have about 12" travel, 5" z, whopping 34" x, with 80/20 frame, and THK rails for x and Z, something else nice yet unobtained for Y. Motion control system yet unobtained. This will hopefully replace my beloved Woodworkers Supply Matchmaker with a more solid, templateless, longer "x" automated machine for joinery that can do nifty tricks to boot. I know just about nothing about CAD software, though I own DesignCAD 3D MAX 15, and I know it will take me more than the two or three hours I spent with it to learn it. Will that do my joinery drawings I need to feed to a CAM program? I do need a CAM program, right, before sending file to MAch 2/3? If DesignCAD 3D MAX 15 is insufficient, what wpould you all recommend? And then suggestions for inlay software? Mostly I"ll be doing monograms. I suppose my needs in this reguard are similar to instrument makers. Thanks for all your expertise. This site has been an inspiration, and often left me quite humbled.

[wwendorf]

My favorite software is Dolphin and the various software from Vectric.

Vectric's software is really easy to use. I downloaded their demo and was able to put stuff together real quick with it as far as decorative writing and designs. When I finally build my cnc router, i'm going to buy that software.

DolphinCad/Cam is also very nice very easy to use software for designing parts and it has a real nice engraving function.

You couldn't go wrong with either one.

Wade

[ger21]

SheetCAM is a good choice, powerful and inexpensive.

[jemmyell]

Hi, a lot of people use CorelDRAW for CNC, especially sign makers. To design monograms and other lettering you need very strong text support with a wide range of fonts. CorelDRAW excels in this. SheetCAM is good and other people have had good luck with CamBam for woodworking with CorelDRAW.

Also, very strong pocketing features are important for inlay.