Software choices? Holy cow!

[LeeWay]

Hey fellas. I thought that once I had sourced and purchased the major parts of my project machine, I might be past the major head scratching part. I was obviously a fish outta water with a notion like this. I have seen a lot of software on here being recommended and have even downloaded som trial versions. The light bulb still ain't burnin. I haven't really got a clue what I actually need. A lot of it says this is all you need and then recommends the other stuff that you need. Okay. Just what do I need?
Here is the deal and perhaps ya'll can make a suggestion based on these needs.
I mainly want to cut out polycarbonate. 3/16" mainly. I first want to run a 90 degree v cutter, but not for cutting through, but nearly throgh. I want to make folds that I can then weld with solvent. I will cut the part from the sheet with a straight cutter later.
I have Flash. It is able to export DXF files. I would like to use windows XP on my laptop. I understand that I will have printer port issues using this, but I do have a wireless home network. I would install another small computer in the shop with a small cheap monitor. I have most of the parts for that already.
I did download Ace from a link provided from here. I think this may translate my DXF into G-code for me.
What do I need from this point on? I bought the Zylotex driver and three 270 oz steppers. I have a 24 volt 6 amp power supply and pretty big 24 volt fan for the drive box that I'll make myself.
If some other program already has this conversion tool included, I'd like to hear about that as well.
I don't want DOS or Linux suggestions. I have about $150 budget for software.
Thanks guys.

[ger21]

Mach2 will convert .dxf files to g-code, and run your machine, in WinXP, for $150. Are you sure you can get useable .dxf files from flash? Download the Mach2 demo and try it out. http://www.artofcnc.ca

[LeeWay]

Thanks. Mach 2 is the program that I was leaning toward. I did download the Demo. The flash DXF seems to work okay in Mach 2, but I eally have no way to know yet. I will try and familiarize myself with some of the workings in Mach 2. Here is what I did.
I drew a simple shape in flash and converted it to a symbol. Then I exported it as a DXF file. The problem that I may have out of the chute is making this a 3d drawing. Will Mach 2 allow me to make this flat shape, say 1/4" thick? I'm really trying to find out if I should just spring for a 3d program or if something like Mach 2 with let me set a depth of material for a line drwing. I can draw pretty accurately in Flash. It does use vector graphics, rather than pixels. It will pixelate too, but that certainly wouldn't be desireable in this case. Thanks again.

[ger21]

When you load the .dxf into Mach2, you set the cutting depth by clicking on the
"layer control" button. If you're cutting flat parts out of sheets, you don't need a 3D program. But you might want to look at a cheap cad program or even a free one, like this http://www.a9tech.com/products/a9cad/

[LeeWay]

Thanks again, Gerry.
I have always wanted a cad program with 3D rendering abilities anyway. I went ahead and sprung for Turbo Cad. That should do what I need it to do as far as the drawing goes. I'll most likely spring for the Mach 2. There are some things that are disabled in the trial version. I know there are tutorias for Turbocad. Do you know of any for Mach 2?

[ger21]

The only things limited in the Mach2 demo, are you can only run 1000 lines of code, and it will only output 25000 steps/second. Everything else is the same I believe. I don't know of any tutorials, but you might want to join the yahoo support group, called mach1mach2cnc. Also, make sure you download the manual, and read it all the way through. If you have any questions, just ask.

Be aware that Mach2 won't convert 3D .dxf files, only 2D drawings .

[studysession]

That link was helpful - thanks!