Hi Buzz,
I was recommended GSimple (
http://www.gsimple.eu/ ) as a free starter package by a kind member of the mod team here, playing around with it for a week prepared me sufficiently that when I purchased a commercial Cad/Cam package I was able to produce working 2D engraving code on the same day as installing.
Something that slowed me down initially was tool and tool holder definition and selection, once I installed BobCad/Cam I knew the first thing I should do is define my tool holders, arbors and tools in the tool library,
Let us know how you get on,
Nick