Thanks ngwagwa...just what I wanted to know. The V4 has a 'vacuum port' in the base too, so good to know it is just an access hole for the pipe.

And yes you are right to raise the retrofit issue as well - the cheap ones tend to have no PC or software with them. I can see from other threads that a high quality electronics upgrade is feasible (but at a cost, thinking on lines of UCCNC AXBB-E with 50V PSU and digital drives like the CW-5045). However also investigating whether a grbl based system (or new Duet3) might give a more budget alternative route.

Ultimately, as other have said - it is a rather limited machine, particularly in terms of size, all be it in a nice enclosure. I am just trying to decide whether with access slots in base and side to enable end machining of longer wood pieces it would offer enough capability to make a valuable first machine.