Multicam tutorials and/or manual

Moderators note*
This group does not condone or support any forms of software piracy. Requests for or support of this practice will lead to a member being banned from the group.

I am posting this note because the questions the poster is asking may involve software that is being used outside of licensing for the packages. This is not an accusation and I am not pointing fingers. Many (most?) of the commercial packaged are not licensed in a way that allow you to sell or trade the older version if it is upgrade. I don't know the situation surounding the software the poster has and he may have fully legal version of the software in questions. This warning is just a reminder of the group policy on the subject and requires no comments or discussion on the list. Off list comments are welcome if you feel it is neccessary.

Tim
[Denver, CO]

Hi All,
I am a new member to this group and am building up my CNC system. I
have been a manual Sherline users for several years and because of my
other hobby (Radio control flying - warbirds in particular), I
decided to go about CNC'ing my mill. I have been researching
archives and am planning on xylotex, driver board and such, but for
now I have a question or two for the group regarding my CAM
software.

Through some horse trading, I am now the owner of Solidworks2003 and
a copy of MasterCAM - Level 3 Mill (version 9), and MasterCam
lathe. I am quite
experienced in CAD and design software in general, but for the life
of me, I cannot figure out Mastercam Mill. Perhaps it is becuse it
has a 1970's era digitizer pad interface (just complaining here), but
realistically, the help files center on defining what a menu pick
does rather than when and why to do something. I will be using this
for personal design and will not care
about fast machining, pushing feed limits, etc. My materials will be
aluminum, wood, and occaisional other easy to machine materials.

I have seen tutorial CD's for sale in the $150 range, and this is
just not doable for me - so

1) Can anyone recoomend an online site or public domain manual, or
better yet a tutorial or two?

2) Can I purchase older V8, V7, V6 manuals for hopes of a good
turoial? - I am hoping that methodology and apporaches have not
changed that much from last few versions even though I am sure GUI
and additional functionality has occured. I have seen these manuals
much cheaper, particularily V6 manuals

3) Has anyone set up MasterCam for Sherline equipment that can guide
me as to setup, tool definitions, etc. in MAsterCam? - I really need
some gudiance here

Thanks,

Joe Finkelstine