I have built a few machines over the last few years. A couple CNC routers, a couple CNC lathes. A couple 3D printers and even a few multi axis camera heads and slides. But this is my first Quilting machine. Took about 4 days and $10. I had everything laying around except a 12vdc relay..
I took my wife's old quilt frame and a smallish Husqvarna mega quilter sewing machine that had a Cruise Control stitch regulator on it and added motors etc to make it move. I used Mach3 for the software and a USB Smooth Stepper for the controller. A nema 17 with 5:1 planetary on X axis and a nema 23 on the Y axis.
Donny