Hello, I'm Bill and I will help you get started with CNC Routers. Many people are discovering CNC Router Tables for the first time. Maybe you saw a really cool project at a craft fair or maybe you were browsing a woodworking magazine and saw an ad. How you discovered CNC doesn't matter but how you get started does. If you’re new to the world of CNC Routers, business, and design software this page is for you! It contains the information you need to get up to speed quickly and start your own venture confidently!

You have chosen to look at Path 1 because you have no idea how to get going or how to choose a CNC Router Table.

I have been building CNC Router Tables and operating them for a long time. If you want to hear my story just click the link. When I got started it was hard to find information about these incredible machines. I want to help you cut through the confusion about CNC Router Tables and get you off to a quick start.

CNC Router tables are the new tool of choice for woodworkers. Prices have dropped drastically in the past year and now good machines can be had for roughly the cost of a table saw.  Having a CNC allows you to make many unique and specialized products specific to your location.

CNC Router Tables can do many of the same jobs that other tools currently do in your workshop. For instance;

• Drill Press - For drilling holes
• Jig Saw - for cutting out shapes
• Scroll Saw - for Cutting out Intricate shapes
• Surface Planer - To create smooth surfaces
• Jointer - to provide straight edges
• Mortise & Tenons - Create joinery
• Dovetail jig - Create Decorative Dovetails
• More

CNC machines generally need three pieces of software to get the job done.

1. Drawing programs – A drawing program can be a CAD package or in some cases a Graphics program like Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator. The important consideration for a drawing program is that it can produce vector artwork to a specific size. I will explain what a vector is shortly.

2. Cam packages – A Cam package (Computer Aided Machining) generates the tool path that the cutter will follow. The CAM package converts the vector drawing into G-Code format so that the Driver software can read it.

3. Motor driver programs – A Motor Driver Program processes the G-code provided by the tool path to generate step and direction commands which allow the electronics to move the stepper motors.

There are many choices for these three pieces of software. Everyone has their own favorites. In fact, several of the programs available to hobbyist can perform more than one of these functions.