Favorite CAM software?

How would I close the paths?

Also, what is the difference between profiles and pockets? Or what is each and what do they do?
Ehh, I'm still learning.

Oh ok, so that would involve modifying the original drawing and adding lines as toolpaths.
And as far as layering goes, how does that set the depth?

I still don't understand what you mean by runs around, or sprials. Both sound like the same thing to me lol.

That seems to make a bit more sense.
The way I understood it is for example you pocket a circle, the bit is going to take 1 round, move in take another round, etc repeatedly until it is all gone.

A profile on the other hand takes only 1 round correct? While keeping the inside of the circle still full of material assuming it was not pocketed yet.

My favorite CAM?
MasterCam and Vectric Aspire.
And the free one..., sorry but no one offers high speed machining and I wouldn't know how to work without it

I'm using CamBam for 5 years and I'm very satisfied with its functions plus the price is very good.
I do only 2.5d machining and CamBam has a lot of usable functions when you learn how to use them correctly.

My CAM is sort of free. As you can see from the Qcad Topic I programmed my own QCad-CAM config file.
It has climb and normal cut tool offset ,direction, arc in and out and a lot of Z level stuff of course.
All the time when the Gcode is loaded up I use Gedit for the last minute changes. Having Z levels set to <> variables helps a lot.

# The following items are free,
# DXF2GCODE Cam software
# Open Terminal, copy and paste the each line one at time into Terminal, press enter after each paste.

cd ~
git clone git.code.sf.net/p/dxf2gcode/sourcecode dxf2gcode-sourcecode
cd /home/`whoami`/dxf2gcode-sourcecode/source/
sudo chmod +x /home/`who | cut -d' ' -f1 | sort | uniq`/dxf2gcode-sourcecode/source/dxf2gcode.py

# To run Dxf2gode Cam Software
# Copy and paste the following into Terminal

python /home/`whoami`/dxf2gcode-sourcecode/source/dxf2gcode.py

---

# To install Sketchup 8 on Ubuntu, Mint or Debian.
# First install Playonlinux on Ubuntu or Mint use the Software install manager for your distro.
# For Debian
# this link for Wheezy

# packages.debian.org/wheezy/playonlinux

# After install of Playonlinux choose install program from within Playonlinux
# then use search function within Playonlinux for google sketchup. Once found choose to install google sketchup. Playonlinux
# will download and install it for you.
# Choose a exe file to start the program, (it will be listed). Icon will be placed on
# your desktop. Program works flawlessly.
# To get Sketch-U-Cam, (CAM add-on) goto web site
# www.openbuilds.com/resources/sketchucam.1/ sign up for login, it is free then download
# Open Sketchup choose menu item Window->Preferences->Extentions->Install Extention
# Choose the Sketch-U-Cam file from the folder you downloaded it to.
# After install of Sketch-U-Cam remember to goto menu item
# Tools-->Phlatboyz-->Options-->Misc Options
# For the line labeled
# Use_compatiable_dialogs set TRUE if you cannot see the parameters dialog
# to TRUE

#

---

# CamMill Cam software
# Goto web site
# www.openbuilds.com/resources/cammill-for-windows-linux-mac.149/
# Sign up for login, it is free then download Manual which contains web link to Wiki for install

#

---

# Simple GCODE generators Wiki
# wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Simple...NC_G-Code_Generators

# 1. Drilling Speeds-n-Feeds
# 2. Arc Generator
# 3. Facing Software
# 4. Bolt Circle Array Software
# 5. Counterbore Software
# 6. Grill Drilling Software
# 7. Bezel Engraving Software
# 8. Text Engraving Software
# 9. Multi-line Text Engraving Software
# 10. Pycam - Drop Cutter Surfacing Software
# 11. Dxf2gcode - import a 2D DXF file and produce G-code
# 12. Rectangular-Circular Pocketing Generator
# 13. Grid Rectangular Circular SpiderNet G-code Generator
# 14. Airfoil G-code Generator 3-4Axis XY-XYUV Foam cuttting (DEAD Link for this one) try this instead swarfer.co.za/rc/wire/index.php
# 15. Other G Code Generators
# 16. Using Python scripts with Axis
# 17. Using Python scripts with Windows
# 18. Using Python scripts online
# 19. mGcodeGenerator
# 20. OpenVoronoi and OpenCAMLib

# As for pay for software I have DesignCad v22 with ContourCam Add-on but have not used it yet was very reasonably priced for both pieces of software