Learn what is available
HERE at CNC Solutions for milling
you have choice of :
Mill Level 1
Mill Level 2
Mill Level 3
MultiAxis
---- add-ons to any of these levels can be "SOLIDS" & "FULL 4 and 5 AXIS MACHINING"
If you are doing molds etc, by ustilizing surface machining, then Mill level 3 would be the starting point.
You can use a 3rd party CAD to create your solid models, but that can (at times) be a *****.
If you don't have SOLIDS, then you cannot move, modify, create anything within Mastercam
Multiaxis is for programming rotary movement. using the rotary axes for (3+1 or 3+2) positioning only.
ie rotate to an angle then run a 3 axis or 3D surfacing operation.
The full 4 or 5 axis option allows programming to use the machine it's fullest capability
IMO, your price to hunt for is for
Mill level 3 with SOLIDS, that is if you don't have a 4th axis,. It can be added on later if your capability changes.
PS- also investigate the possibilities of
Mastercam for Solidworks, You must also have purchased Solidworks beforehand. This mastercam does NOT have all the same functionality as a full blown Mastercam version