Cnc questions

[Cooper]

Hey guys, cnc questions,,,

Two years ago is when I got a mill/lathe combo, last year I got a bf20 mill. I never touched a mill or lathe before that so my learning was self taught and my dozer build is a good show of what I'm capable of. By no way a machinist but a good grasp of what I like to accomplish. I'm entertaining the idea of retrofitting my mill to cnc. Yup hoss has done it again!! Great info there. My questions may be sophomoric but I really don't have a clue yet. I found that Mach software seems to be the standard. What I don't get yet is how does a part made from autodesk or solid works get to the mill table? The gcode? Do you have to program every part and every too path, every .02" cut for every pass? Or does the software send the code (shape of part) to the computer (mill) and you just program parameters or tool changes? Again I'm green . I'm just now getting the knowledge of what to do to transform machine. And I'm sure I can handle that. The computer stuff is what challenges me. I've made a bunch of parts for the 3d printer. If I had a cad made part would I transfer the file to the cutting software or would I just have to remake the part in g code? For every line of cut, and every cut path? Or does it somewhat take over and you tell it depth of cut and tool changes?