If you are coming at this as a complete novice,do you need to gain proficiency with some form of CAD first?There can be quite a lot of learning needed for a total novice,just to get a sensible CAD file with all the entities joined at the part boundary and holes in the correct locations.Then you need to learn how to use a program to convert it to Gcode and load it on a machine that will carry out the instructions.Learning how to build and calibrate the machine is another significant step and none of the processes are trivial.

I've seen a few Chinese/Taiwanese machines and they are not all identical.Those built to the lowest achievable price point don't have much in common with the more sophisticated machines but any of them will get you producing parts a lot sooner than building a machine yourself.Not to mention that even the most basic will seem like a quantum leap forward for a man used to working with panel saws,jigsaws and hand routers.What it won't do is produce at the rate of a bigger and more expensive machine or for as long before wear and tear sets in.If you look at a few of the promoted machines online you may well notice that a lot have the same anatomy and a different colour coat of paint and label.