Hi everyone, (Andy, Mike, Kitwn, Clive)

It's been a busy couple of days where the better half's car engine decided to have an identity crisis and turn into fog machine then furnace.... So I was traveling interstate to pick her up while the parts are on order.

Thanks everyone for all the replies. Of the four responses, at least two imply alcohol is needed to get into this CNC stuff. Surely it can't be that bad ;~) Unfortunately, I'm beyond a light-weight when it comes to booze... so I'm more of a steak/burger/schnitzel with water kind of guy.

Andy, I'm really impressed by "El Beast", and you're right, Zeeflyboy has done an amazing job of designing and "prettying it up". RouterCNC's 4th machine is also quite impressive. Haven't read up on Joes build yet, but I'll read that one soon.

MikeS, Always happy to meet an Aussie expat. Bit of a shift from S.A to the U.K. I assume you went for the rainfall? My better half did a 6 month contract job over in Adelaide a few years back, and loved "getting out of Adelaide" whether that was "the hills" or Gawler, Kangaroo Island, or even Lake Eyre. Some beautiful country out there, but it's not always inviting.

Kit, greetings from the mainland :-) Yeah, interstate catch ups are often a long-process these days, I just hope things clear up soon. The steel frame with epoxy idea intrigues me..... although I will need to do more research. While I do have a welder, I don't weld very often, and I'm largely self-taught. Consequently, I don't claim mastery of it. I generally use gasless MIG wire, so it's closer to a metallic hot glue gun than the finesse needed for artful TIG fillets. My stick welding... let's just say that I'm a novice because I don't really use it. However, I have welded steel trolley's for my drill press and bandsaw. All I can say is... while I'm not proud of it.... I find that the judicious use of an angle grinder with a flap disk with a can of paint can hide a lot of welding sins "after the fact". If anyone agrees with that sentiment, you're amongst friends. :-)

Honestly, I do have reservations about my ability to weld anything that's square, flat, true, etc. This is why I've been considering the aluminium extrusion. Although, like everyone, I am more than happy to reduce expenses if I can get a workable result.

Clive (last but certainly not least) thanks for the link to the video, that looks a bit more heavy duty than I can justify to the better half. However, it looks really well made.

To answer your questions, I'm looking at building the machine for mostly softer materials like wood, plastics, some resins, etc. However, if it can do some Aluminium machining, then that wouldn't be a bad thing either. I don't know whether my collected gear would do more... but in any case, I think it would be beyond my skills to make well as a first CNC project.

As you all know, I have a long way ahead of me, but even if I can throw what I have into some arrangement that's "vaguely working" I'm sure I'd learn a lot. Out of curiousity, what do you use your CNCs for? I'd love to see some of your completed projects.

As always, stay safe, and have fun!
Harmo.