VMC - Buy or Build? With Ramblings ;-)

[JAZZCNC]

That's just reminded me that Fadal's were weldments, and David Decaussin was making the UMC10 for a while, which was a welded steel.

Exactly.!!. . . Weldment machine isn't beyond commited DIY builder. Steel is cheap and plasma/Waterjet cutting isn't that expensive. Out source some heat treatment/stress relief and grinding/machining services then you'll soon have strong base machine to start with. £15-20K gives you fare amount of room to play.

To be honest I'd even look towards EG or Concrete Fixed Gantry machine because could build a Very strong machine with larger cutting area in same footprint.