Newbie looking at 6040 (China CNC) for polypropylene 15mm sheet

[Neale]

A toroidal transformer 24-0-24v in series with one rectifier and two caps

Actually, I'm using a 2x45V toroidal with both windings strapped in parallel to give a single 650W supply. Same thing, really!

My first router used LinuxCNC (cheap - nothing cheaper, in fact) and a parallel port to a cheap breakout board. No spindle (speed or start/stop) control. Old analogue drivers. It worked. Not ideal in many ways, but you don't always need "the best". But you do need something that works for you, and it does need to be reasonably reliable. Best thing, I guess, is to try to understand what compromises you are making by going cheaper and deciding if you can accept that for the time being. The other thing to keep in mind is, "Can I easily upgrade it later?" For example, changing a motion controller or stepper drivers is not too invasive. But changing ballscrews for leadscrews, or supported rails for profile rails, might be more difficult later.

I have probable spent around £2500 on my steel-framed, ballscrewed, profile railed, motion-controlled, 1500x750 router. That's probably typical.