Projections for CNC Production

[Geo]

You might find some ideas in this thread:

Is SketchUp the right tool for breaking down parts of a 3d object?

I am considering Sketch Up purchase but not sure if it will do what I need. I need something that will take an object (ex. a sphere) and allow me to break it down into parts. I need to be able to visualize the sphere as if it were broken down into strips which start at one pole and end at the other pole and which, when put back together again, will create the complete sphere. I know this can be done in Rhino but since I am a complete newbie to 3D software, I find Rhino way over my head. I was t…