Hi.

I'm a semi retired electronics engineer and am looking for a cnc router for my small workshop but I'm finding the process of finding one very frustrating. I want to be able to cut furniture pieces from hardwood and ply and ideally need a machine that will take at least a 4' x 2' board, I'd love a bigger machine but my shop is just too small.

I originally started looking at things like the x-carve and shapeoko but they are both smaller than I need and look a little flimsy. I then started looking at diy kits. CNC router parts and Routakit both do machines that are the right size and I'd almost taken the plunge and ordered a Routakit HD until I found out that shipping and vat/duty would put the price of the machine @ around £4500. This seems very expensive for a machine made from aluminium extrusions with timing belt drives so I thought I'd have a go at sourcing parts fo a similar machine from the UK.

This is where it gets frustrating, I can easily find parts and even complete metalwork kits on US sites but there seems to be a complete dearth of suppliers in th UK, and those I have found, like CNC4you don't seem to be reviewed anywhere.

My budget is around about £3k and I'd like a machine that can reliably and repeatably cut 25mm birch ply all day long but that can also do some more intricate 3d carving in hardwoods and possibly some inlay work in brass and acrylic.

Is this possible for my budget or would I be better off investing in a decent scroll saw and router table?