Well I bought one off ebay..

[Fivetide]

Well I'm hoping ( fingers crossed) that I can convert the parralel to USB with one of these

CPC



Then I can use other software as well as the one supplied, of course I may need another controller box ,I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Mark I hope it will be here by next week they quote 2-4 working days. Hopefully when I get the machine I can strip out the table and try to find out why its offset and if I can do that I might be able to fix it, if not at the back of house is an massive engineering shop for BAe systems and I have a friend who works there.. maybe a skim job? as you said or it may turn out to be something simple.. who knows , I'll let you know as thing progress :)
My dad was a tool maker many moons ago ( when computers filled rooms not watches) , dont think he can help me with the computer side but might help me with the engineering.. bugger he will want to use it all the time now I bet lol !

[blackburn mark]

iv had a quick scan and it looks like some people are using some form of fanuc with your setup so im optomistic that you should be able to use other cad/cam packages to create your code if the need arises (without the need for the usb... i dont think the one you have linked would work for cnc...it takes an exotic bit of hardware/sofware to cnc through usb)
you need a Parallel Port/printer port (old computer that has one or add a pci Parallel Port card to your pc if its not got one)

if your dad gets to use it you can twist his arm to cough up for some tooling :)
(ebay/china)pack of 3.175mm carbide single flutes and a couple of 6mm carbide single flute cutters will see you through most general machining adventures