O.K., If I am going to build a good CNC milling machine, a good thing to have is a CNC milling machine - which might obviate the need to build one.

There seem to be a number of useful looking second hand training machines around from Denford, Boxford and Emco, (and maybe others that I haven't heard about) that might either fit the bill, or form the basis of a conversion to Mach3. There are also some tempting looking new machines on the market from Syil and Arc Euro Trade.

My basic spec is for a desktop machine width (left to right) less than 1000mm, depth (front to back) less than 600mm - although for a really good machine I may suck my gut in to get past.

Any recommendations, either for, or at least as important, what to avoid.

Mike