Hi Michael.
Thanks for your reply.
I just see the machine as a learning experience and it will be just used for pleasure really. Therefore accuracy shouldnt be an issue. I won't be using it to make parts that need to be accurate. I will be just making thing things that look good and decorative parts really. As its just a personal project i'll have lots of time to learn the software and hardware and understand how these machines work. Money is not an issue as I see it as a long lasting, on-going thing, although I don't wanna go stupid on the money front. Would prefer to stay in the £100's rather than the £1000's! Got loads of space too. It's the software that worries me the most as I'm no good with computers. So your advice to learn the software before doing anything sounds like a plan. I've touched on CAD and also a CAD/CAM package at college but only very slightly, so if I get the software for myself to play about with and with the help of people on here I can get my head around it!

Thanks Rob.