CAD to CAM: the whole process?

Yesterday I got the EMC BDI up and running. I have IntelliCAD 2000
for making the DXF drawings, ACEconverter to do the DXF to g-code
conversion, and EMC to take the g-code and run my ShopTask. Not bad
for an investment of $10.00.

As I was watching the EMC backplot run a 3-D demo it occured to me
that I need to make a change in perspective about how I draw things.
What I used to do was concentrate drawing the finished object since
that was what I cared about. Unless I'm missing a bit of magic here
it would seem that I now need to think in terms of the raw blank and
how I'm going to remove material from it. That way when the DXF file
gets converted I have g-code that will remove all of the surplus
material and the finished item is really just an after thought. 8^)
Is that correct or do I need to schedule a session with Mr. Obvious?

Dan Eaton (Saint Louis)