Searching for help, getting a first CNC machine

[Chrono]

Hello and welcome.

If you have the time and the inclination, then definitely build your own..! Have a look at the builds on here and start asking questions / thinking about your own design. Off the top of my head, for what you're wanting to achieve a gantry style router (not dissimilar to mine) using 20mm alu plates and extrusions should serve you well.
[...]

Thank you for the tips the kind words!

I had a look at your build, and I must say, that machine looks amazing. By looking through that guide, one of the most basic questions I had, was: how did much it cost in the end (If you don't mind me asking, that is)? I am collecting ideas from various build guides, but what still eludes me, is how to effectively plan and dimension the machine in terms of cost. My budget is the biggest limiting factor for me, after all...
Another question would be, if building a machine like that would be possible without access to a small mill in the first place? From those big plates, to the motor holders and even small brackets for the drag chain, you milled a lot of the pieces. Are there alternatives to that, or would I have to get them made by a third party?
Finally, are there any examples for things you already made on that router?

Of course, there are other questions, like how to drive the dual ballscrew, how to even mount the ballscrew, etc. But for those I will have to take a deeper, more in depth look, on the topics first. I would, however, take any recommendations for which build logs to look at (there are 14 pages after all!).

[Wal]

Cost wise - Hmm... it's difficult to say, as there are probably loads of bits and pieces that I bought and have forgotten about..! But to give you an idea - my HiWin rails and bearing-blocks, ball-screws and bearings/housings came to US$850 including freight (US$200). I paid around UK£200 for my aluminium stock and the aluminium extrusion came to UK£200. The spindle and VFD will cost you somewhere around UK£250. Then you've got pulleys and belts (or direct drive motor mounts), e-chain, power supplies, drivers, motion control boards, a housing to, well, house all the electrics, a PC etc. You're easily looking at £2000...

Yes - having access to metal working equipment and/or someone who can help you with some of that stuff (in my case CliveS - also of this forum) is going to be a massive help. But if you want a bit of inspiration as to what's achievable with some pretty basic gear then check out Joe's build:

http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/4513-3-Axis-CNC-router

Pretty cool. Here's his YT channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/joerharris/videos

My very first build was a fixed gantry mini-mill type of thing - I had the frame fabricated and got a machine shop to drill the alu plates - in all honesty, with a bit of careful layout I could probably have drilled those myself..! My point is - there's often a clever way of simplifying something (and then getting the machine to make itself a better part once it's up and running..!)

It would be a great help to you if you could find someone local that would show you around their home-built machine - at that moment a lot of stuff falls into place and starts making a bit more sense..!

If you'd like to see some examples of what I've made with my two machines check out my instagram and tumblr links in my signature below.

Wal.