Hi All

I have a Sherline 5410 metric mill, and a Sherline rotary table, all non-CNC. I would like to retrofit with CNC, to machine brass, aluminium and plastic. I use Bentley Microstation V8 for my 3D design work - I have used it for a long time, it does everything I need it to do and I know it well. I have already produced a lot of resin masters through Shapeways and had them cast in brass. I am manufacturing 1/48 up to 1/12 scale railway models from the rails up, and need to mill parts like wheel centres, side rods & valve gear, chassis frames etc. I would also like to use the CNC mill to punch rivet patterns and then cut out sheet brass to save me doing it by hand.

Looking on the 'net, I see a bewildering variety of offerings, and now I am confused as heck. Could y'all throw some ideas and opinions at me as to what's a good package to buy, in terms of reliability, user-friendliness and also figuring in the reputation of the supplier for backup? My budget is in the less-than-US$3K range.

Regards
Paul Woods
Whangarei, NZ.