free cam

Periodically I'll scan the web for free/affordable CAD and CAM packages for the day when I have to make a decision. The Alibre package seems quite functional and affordable, but I noticed that their CAM is based on Mecsoft software, so I dug around their website and found FreeMill:
www.mecsoft.com/freemill.shtml
Not sure if it's a full blown CAM package, but it can import models and export G code. And it says it's completely free. I noticed it's not on the partial list of CAM software (wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Cam) so I figured I'd bring it up.

Has anyone had experience/success with this?

depends on your use , but yes it does work for most 2d work
and windows of course
rather than Linux

The problem with FreeMill is that it doesnt work for 3D milling. Say i put in an STL for a 1" thick gear, all it makes for the g-code is the finishing cut, it doesnt do any zigzag pattern to mill away any of the extra material. If you ran that code, it would try cutting 1" down worth of material, and that's sure to cause some problems.

For a free cam, i suggest HeeksCNC. If is very powerful, and a full fledge 3 Axis 3D cam. It is opensource, and is funded by donations. It works well for 2D and 3D, having features build specifically for the two types of machining. It's also a good cam since you learn little bits of how more advanced cams work. It is a software which is not just a step by step menu like on Cut3D, or VisualMill, or Freemill; but more like MasterCam, SprutCam, and more.

I need a FreeCAM for Laser cutting engraver machine. I have searched in the web but dont have found nothing free to linux. Only CAM programs to Mill machines but laser machine nothing. I am controling the power laser with velocity of spindle commands. The unique cam software that I found with this characteristic is SheetCAM but it is commercial and demo version is very limited.

Yes. I try dxf2gcode but in CAM Laser Machines is posible set power laser in each layer of design CAD and this is not posible in dxf2gcode. I am using sheetcam in linux ubuntu 10.04 with RTAI LinuxCNC2.5 patch. It permit max 160 lines of G code, dont permit to simulate. Is very limited.