Hello all its wonderful to see all the fun projects and get all the takes on various aspects. I liked cruising through trying to find answers for similar situations, what a great community.
I myself have a mechanical and industrial Electrical design/maintenance background and have built from scratch a couple wood capable machines. I am looking though now as we all do progress to delve into tinkering with Steel projects.

I WANT TO STAY AROUND 2K... which I know several of you would say I have an 8k machine that I love, ect... but I am not really into production level. So while my initial thought was a LMS (little machine shop) 3990 as those seem to be best suited at that level for milling and upgrading from there to CNC that puts me over 3k... and I really do like CNC from the 6040 wood working level I have.

Ok so the couple options ... ok possibly really only 1 that I am really trying to get you-alls backing on is the Steel Desktop CNC 3040 3axis Router Engraving Cutting Machine Mach3 USB Machine (yep that's a steel frame construction not the typical aluminum ones and its about 2k)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17410247417...MAAOSwclhd1gzq

3040A.jpg

Any reason this would not work for mild steel (possibly some stainless and aluminum)
unlike wood I am really taxing myself why I would need anything that would require any more than 6" height when it comes to metal

someone on the boards had gotten the 6040 version, but never completed there experience posting

unless of course which is intriguing 5th axis capability, but even though its a column type as compared to gantry it says it handles only up to aluminum? any reason it shouldn't with the 3hp motor it can't handle steel as its column type? - CNC Router 5 Axis Cnc Milling Machine 3040 6040 Engraving Machine VFD 2.2KW Spindle

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...f6625350f61-39

6401A.jpg

and of course the LMS shop 3990 that it would be nice if someone would offer up their pre-owned one for sale but at over 3k all in for CNC its too steep for me to take serious right now.... it that really going to be that much stronger from all of you that might have experience with the steel frame 3040s?

https://littlemachineshop.com/produc...ory=1387807683

Lms1A.jpg


My Metal work right now may be simple pockets cut out, but as I also have an art background and was quite ornate in my woodwork, I can see me being intricate at some point. --- Ok you guys I'm counting on ya!