Quote Originally Posted by Neale View Post
Pity this wasn't proof-read more carefully - "meretricious" according to the Oxford Dictionary of English means "Apparently attractive but having no real value". I'm sure that they meant "meticulously"...
Ah ah they may have meant "meticulously" but correct with "meretricious". . Lol

Quote Originally Posted by jimchelt View Post
Well, that's blown me right out of the water. If I go for the UCCNC option what are your recommendations for the hardware? I mainly work in wood and had been thinking about inlays, relief carving, photo carving etc. with maybe some small engraving on thin brass and/or aluminium. I cannot see that I will ever want to do any serious milling.
Well don't be because better to know now than after you put lot of time energy money into it only to be dissapointed.

Now you say you don't have any serious milling needs but inlay work and fine detail engraving is very much serious milling. Maybe not in material removal terms but certainly is in regards to machine design strength/accuracy. The C-Beam doesn't come close for quality work.

However I don't agree with Neale suggestion to start with chinese machine as base starter. The Frame build quality on these things is rubbish. the mechanical components are rubbish and the electrics are rubbish. Lots of little things, which i could list but won't that amount to poor machine and not good place to start.
£875 gets you good way down the road with good components and by that I mean Profiled linear rails, ballscrews with proper end bearings etc.
Let me break it down for you.

If you can work with Steel then the frame for small machine with cutting area size of C-beam won't cost fortune. Less than £50.
Aluminium for Z axis and Bed aprox £150
Frame total £200

If buy from China which we all do without any issues so don't be afraid. Then you'll get profiled Rails,ballscrews endbearings, couplers pretty much all the mechanical parts for £350.
Something like this.
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...5f947123KaT2CY

1.5Kw Water cooled Spindle and VFD which will knock spots off Kress. £133.00
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5KW-ER1...YAAOSwPhdU3Zeu

Electrics gets little more tricky and expensive but lets give it go.
50V Digital drives x 3 £81
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-S...item1c88f09319

Motors x 3 £80.00
https://www.cnc4you.co.uk/Stepper-Mo...YGH301B-Nema23

PSU best building toroidal supply cost roughly £70.00

Motion controller UC100 £80.00
Cheap Breakout board £10

So far we have 98% required for good machine. lets add it up.
Frame £200
Mechanics £350
Spindle £133
Drives £81
Motors £80
PSU £70
Motion C £80
BOB £10

Total £1004

The remaining 2% to finish will bring to roughly £1200. For this you'll have machien that knocks the living daylights out of the C-beam and any chinese machine. Which will do anything you want and to high standard provided you build the frame well.

So you see why I dont agree and just what can be done with not lot of money. If you decide to take this route then just ask questions or contact me directly I don't mind offering advise and quite pleased to give you my number if want to chat.