Learning Journey - How to "Talk" to My CNC Router

The journey is not yet successful, but I want to make note of some sites I may want to return to as I continue on . . . After we (mostly Louie) got the CNC Router put together, I was eager to test it out!

First try was using Inkscape. I like the software and felt confident as I entered the size of wood, the text I wanted, etc. But then came getting the "GCode" to talk to the "Gerbil." . . . Not so intuitive and not at all successful!
Hackaday has some advice. But the "GCodeTools" for Inkscape link (available from many sources) takes you to a Russian GCodeTools forum . . . with unclear instructions. Lots of frustration ensued. No success with the GCodeTools. I was in so many menus and trying so many settings!

Then Louie suggested I try Easel. Super easy to create a free account (via Inventables) and has the necessary GCode to "talk" to the Router. Super easy to identify the project parameters and hit the "carve" button. . . only there is no 100% free version anymore. It gives you four free carves via the Pro version and then you pay for the software. Louie kept insisting I had done something wrong and told me to go back and carve using the free software. The video we watched showed how easy it was! But that video was made in 2014, as was the video actually from the founder of Easel (which shows that you just click on the "Start Cutting" button.) Oh, how things change! I really like Easel and how easy it is! Part of me is tempted to go ahead and try it anyway. But we were at an impasse and so we were on to software option #3.

When Louie showed me a video on some CAD/CAM software, the guy sounded like a teacher in a Charlie Brown video ("WahWahWah . . . "). Plus he was showing a fairly complex piece of 3D modeling. I said "I just want to make signs by carving on pieces of wood!" I had hit the wall. I was frustrated and just DONE with it all. But it has been a week and I'm ready to try again. I've had two of my engineer sons say that Fusion 360 is definitely the best option for me. They insist that I can use it successfully and start with the project I want, keep it simple, and learn more when I'm ready for more. Sigh. I'll post again later.

Here are some other sites I've left open for ages:
A Random Tree - I like how this guy explains his projects.
Another CNC Tree - I really like his stuff and his writing style . . .
Inkscape and G-Code - These Norwegians were offering hope when I was emotionally attached to using Inkscape. Louie said Inkscape is great for designing projects, but not ideal for communicating with the CNC Machine.
Totally different strategy! - I stumbled across this and I LOVE it! Nothing to do with learning how to use my CNC Machine, but I can get words onto wood with my laser printer and some Polycrylic (watch method #3 at 2:54).  (His site is Fix This Build That.)
Fusion 360 CAM Tutorial for CNC Beginners - This is where I'm at right now. Learning how to use Fusion 360 for what I want to do. So far, so good.