My local Men's Shed here in Tasmania bought a Chinese machine a couple of years back (before I joined I might add) which has exactly the kind of DSP controller Dean describes. After using 'proper' controllers, first LinuxCNC and more recently UCCNC I find the DSP device hopelessly inadequate and frustrating to use. The machine has hardly been used by the shed members and I think this is one of the reasons. I find it confusing and I already ( sort of) know what I'm doing. Mechanically the machine seems reasonable but I'm hoping to convince the shed to upgrade the controller to something better at some point in the future (that'll be some point when I have the time to do the refit and setting up myself).

If you do consider buying such a machine, my advice would be to budget in an immediate replacement of the controller rather than waste time learning how to use something you will not keep long term.

Kit