Paul Gauthier wrote:
Wish I had the needed skill set for cnc programing.
You probably do and just don't know it. Long gone are the days when you have to sit and write raw g-code (the language of most CNC controllers). For the topo map in this thread I used dmap2gcode, a free program that takes a depth map (in the form of a gray scale image) and generates the required g-code. Yes, you have to understand speeds and feeds for your router, but most woodworkers can figure that out. You need to understand a few gcode items to set the header that dmap2gcode will use, but that's pretty straightforward and a one-time thing.
For other projects you will end up using something like Fusion 360 (free from Adobe for personal use), which has a programming module. Another good program (about $150) for woodworking CNC is CAMBAM. This takes drawings in .dxf format (or you can draw directly in the program). You then identify boundaries for pockets and such, pick your feeds and speeds, and off you go.
I'm not claiming it's trivial to create a decent program, but most reasonably competent woodworkers with analytical skills can work with these programs to drive a CNC router (or other CNC tool.)