1st Post - I'd better say Hi!

[Makerbot71]

Hi to all on this forum. Newley registered today, so I thought I'd better give a bit of background as to why I'm here.

I have 'played' with some CNC machines form about 30 years ago or more - when my father got his first CNC mill - a Leadwell TDC450 with a Mitsubishi Meldas controller. I went on his CADCAM training course with him (as a teenager) in the hope that I could further explain things to him after the course!!

I now fancy building myself a small CNC engraver / router / mill so that I can make small things like house signs, small items, pieces for friends and relatives - and to just 'play'. I have looked at machines such as the Genmitsu 4040 and the TwoTrees TTC450 and thought to myself - I can build better than that for cheaper than that (probably....). I'm looking to build a machine no bigger than 6040, possibly 4040 or 4030 or thereabouts. I've watched this chaps YouTube video of his build and was thinking along those lines but using 3030 Ali extrusion - so like a generic 3018 but with a stronger (even if slightly) frame etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7yjEYOrYFo

I have a 3D printer and a laser engraver and a small (tiny) PCB CNC machine, so I've played with motions control, gcode, servos, electronics etc. I'm an engineer by interest and training (interest in mechanical things, training in electrical things) so am not too fazed by making my own and researching as I go along. I've bought an old 3D printer, stripped it down, used the ali extrusion to build my own frame, have bought an Arduino Uno and CNC Shield, 3D printed bits I need and plan to make my own laser engraver - this will help me to understand more of the construction / limit switches etc etc.

Thoughts / comments / suggestions welcomed - I've a lot to learn and am only jsut starting.