[Doug G]

We have a small CNC in our shop and the students learn how to hand write some simple G-Codes. We also have some of the advanced students able to take Inventor models and load them into MasterCAM where they specify the cutter specs, depths and passes, and all the nitty gritty details, then create a post with all the G-code. We then feed that program into the CNC and walla. I used to think that once we got the CNC, we would build everything on it - but we have found that only a few pieces really have to be done on it, the rest can get by on a manual mill.

Or you can just create model in Inventor and save it in about 10 different formats and see which one the shop can use.

Now if we just had a waterjet....