Is there a "generic" NC programming language, or does each brand of machine
have its own? How hard is it to learn from scratch? Are there any resources
on-line?

Where I sit, they have a Fadal VMC 45, model #903-1, that just sits there
because the only guy who knew how to program it quit. If I can find
something on-line, I'd like to learn how to program the thing so that we
can get some use out of it. What I normally do, when there's work, is draw
pretty 3D pictures of parts with Autocad Mechanical Desktop; from that,
if I understand the system, it shouldn't be too hard to make a script or
whatever it's called to control the machine. I know I'd need to know
about tool speeds and paths and stuff, but we have two real machinists
whose brains I could pick for little details like that, and I've got
nothing but time on my hands - nowadays I sweep the floors and take out
the trash and clean the sinks and toilets, and they let me hang around
until there's actual work.

So, is there any kind of on-line tuturial or anything where I could
get started?

Thanks,
Rich