Another newbie needing help with software!
I am hoping to have my first CNC machine complete in a few weeks time. So I am starting to think about software.
I am pretty confused as to what software i need. I understand that I will need a program to design what ever I am wanting to cut and a program to control my machine. I have seen a lot of people with DIY machines using Mach3 software to control their machines.
I am proficient in Auto CAD and other Autodesk products such as Inventor etc. Am I able to design in say autocad and then use that file in Mach 3? Where do plotting the tool paths etc. come in to it?
I will be using the machine to cut 2D shapes out of plywood to start but may start to do more 3D stuff in the future.
If someone could give me an idea of the workflow/software they use to go from design to cutting that would be very much appreciated!
Thanks,
Rory