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If men's shed could get a MACH3 system, there will be a lot of things that can be done without having to buy expensive software.
1. The free MACH3 Wizards or low-priced Newfangled Solution Wizards are very handy to do a lot of stuffs.
You can even use the "COPYCAT" wizard on the machine itself to vectorize live objects or a photograph like what expensive "Logic trace 2022" is doing.
2. Try FREEWARE from Scorch Works
F-Engrave: Dmap2Gcode: G-Code Ripper: used together can do things that even expensive software cannot do.
3. Freeware INKSCAPE is very powerful and it can also generate g-code directly.
4. Learn G-code programming directly instead of being sucked/deceived into dependence on EXPENSIVE Vectric or Autodesk or other CAD/CAM software. Download or buy Peter Smid's "CNC Programming Handbook" and use free VISUALISER g-code editor called "NC Corrector".

 

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@jw2170

Go for 6040 with Water-cooled spindle like this (brand new USD800 so for USD500 you can get a used one)

I can donate a fully activated I5 Windows XP/Win7 PC & a Xbox360 games controller for you to run MACH3 (sorry won't ship any monitor).
You will need to pay for a legal MACH3 license.

I will help you to change the X-axis and Y axis around so that X-axis is the longer axis (X=600, Y=390 Z=120 instead)..
With F-engrave+ G-Code Ripper software YOU will be able make huge & heavy Wooden/plastic/Aluminum Signs up to1.5 feet wide of ANY LENGTH by shifting the workpiece and engraving about 2 feet at a time. Just need in-feed and outfeed support plus an fixed index hole drilled on the machine.
Can't do that when people are deceived by those expensive CAD/CAM software that ALWAYS limit your workpiece size.

 

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Regarding many of the replies above, what is the reason the lasers were not getting used? Is it possible it's because of things mentioned - the complexity of operating the system?

The complexity of learning to use one aside, I think lasers are worth their weight in gold. One of the first things I'd be doing is, making heavy Mylar templates, for example. The other first thing I'd be doing is, etching things I'd made.

IMHO
Low powered lasers can only do engraving or cut very thin materials. Can't cut thick materials.
Scroll saws can cut 2" thick. Same with manual routers or CNC routers. Table saws 3"-4" per pass.
Band Saws even thicker.

 

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I wouldn't recommend men's shed buy the 3018 (30cmx18cm) GBRL based CNC "engraver cutting" machine (price only AUD200-300).
Those are not even called "CNC routers".
Spindle is 200W-500W DC motor with 5mm shaft.

I do play with GRBL 1.0 and GRBL1.1 with Candle and UGS. The main problem is that the Arduino Chip ( ATmega328 with 32 KB of Flash and 2 KB of RAM, running at 16 MHz) used by GBRL has so little RAM and is so slow that capability is limited.
The ARM CPU version of GBRL is NOT used in the 3018 "engraver cutting" machine.

(MACH3 license once bought can be used to run more than 1 machine if owner is the same.)