New to ... everything. Recommendations for setups?

I've been an avid RC guy for a long time and would like to get into the world of cnc so I can design and make my own small parts. Things like motor plates, a arms, wheels maybe some vertical chassis plates as well.

I was wondering what you would all recommend as far as entry level software and machining tools to make small batches of parts for myself and my friends. I want to be able to design and cut my own stuff in my garage.


My budget is on the lower end since this is just for hobby, but if there is a giant advantage to spending a little more for something that is twice as good ... I'm open to that.
:)

Learn to write G code and the cost is free, use notepad to copy paste code and go back and edit the z depths and you're in business 2.5 D

im cheap and tight :)

im using...google sketchup (expired) to draw with. its a head trip until you start working out the "procedures" to follow, then it becomes p.o.p :)

im about to try my hand at animating with it soon :)

i have mach3 for the cnc side of things, on an x2 with 4th axis. gecko drive and steppers.

mach3 wizards, cut pasted together, are great for 90 percent of things.

i use meshcam for the complex stuff, which can confuse it a little bit...

everything is less than 200 each, google is free.

and to use google files on meshcam etc, i have the add ons to export files as whatever the type is meshcam will accept...stl? something like that.


havent made much of anything but a mess so far :)

Cad Drawing: Draftsight is free and almost identical to Autocad.

Cam Software: CamBam works great and has a trial and awsome user support on the CamBam forum... $150 i think.

Machine Control: Mach 3 or if you are a Linex guy EMC is free and open source.

If you purchase Mach3 from the CamBam site along with CamBam you can get a discount.

Check out my web site... everything designed with Autocad and CamBam