Hi there,

I live in Marske so not far from you at all. Ive got a CNC off Dean ( JazzCNC ) a year ago. Having had no experience in using one before and the only experience of CAD being 2D AutoCAD.

If you are wanting to learn both the design of items and also the machining of them I think you have a few more options than you may realise...

Last year I attended Middlesbrough College and did a Level 1 Course in Parametric modelling using Autodesk Inventor. This year I am doing the same course but Level 2 Parametric Modelling , this time at Redcar College. There are courses out there. Yes, the course teaches the modelling side and not the running of the machines, but I think alot of this you can teach yourself, especially if you are techincally minded ( I see you work in IT, similar to me so doubt you will have many problems.

I use Fusion 360 ( good thing about doing a college course if you get an educational email adddress which you can then use to get a 1 year educational license for all Autodesk products ) . The toolpath simulation on Fusion is really good. I Just mucked around in the toolpath section of Fusion before I even got my machine. I'm not trying to say I'm the worlds greatest machinist because I'm not, but its not the most difficult thing Ive ever had to learn and between just trying it out and Youtube I think you can very much get yourself to a position where you are making things without having to go on specialised courses.

regards

Ben