Originally Posted by
turntoolpro
Working size should be in the range of 24 x 36 x 12 (X,Y,Z) or thereabouts. Bigger is better as the projects I'm looking to make are wood plaques in two to three sizes and current largest size is about 14" x 20". I can always go larger with a bigger workable area. I have much experience from being a mfg. engineer processing work and writing CNC programs, from longhand mind you -we didn't have Master Cam when I learned! Nowadays I would not have a problem using software and have seen this one called Mach 3. I'd bet I could do what I need to do with Master Cam though. As far as budget, we all want a good bargain -the cheaper the better - but the old adage 'you get what you pay for' applies here as well. So, taking my friend Troy's advice and build my own machine has taken a hold of my brain and I think that is the best way to go. I just need to learn more on spindles and stepping motors and tables and software and everything else need to get going. I guess my budget would be $1k but less than $2K. I was tossing the idea of an actual CNC Mill like a Mori-Seiki VM40 as I could do more projects cutting metal like I want to do too. After all, a CNC Router is really just a 3-axis milling machine anyway.