EMCO Compact 5 CNC Lathe how to hook to PC

I have bought an EMCO Compact 5 CNC lathe fitted with
tool changer and running the last level software A6C
114 004. The lathe is fitted with a serial RS 232
connection so I'm currently making up the link lead to
hook to the serial on a PC. Has anyone any experiance
of programming off line on a PC to the EMCO. I
understand how the comms bit is done but would like to
know how to write the G code off line much quicker
than on the machine and maybe program from CAD and run
it through CAM. Most of the programs I write are
simple but I need to get quicker. I'm quite happy with
G code but would like to check out the software
options from anyone out there using the same machine.
I am also working on a mill which again has G code
input but maybe there is some software out there that
will communicate with both so I can just program off
line and plug in the PC to each machine?

Graham

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