Thanks very much for the replies gents, once I saw the motors running I sort of guessed the usability of the motors was going to be quite limited to 3d printing, or maybe laser cutting, being as am on a very tight budget and have the neccessary item for the route I will probably go down it and forget about the possibility of prototype PCB routing. So in a way the money isn't wasted, I should learn plenty on the way, especially for when I do get the funds to build something much better and able to handle loads.

But, being positive, I have already learned something :)


Being as am not expecting the table to move more than 150mm x 150 mm I am planning on keeping with the cheap/learning amd using drawer sliders, which yes I know are far from ideal, I will also using threaded bar with long nuts (freebies) which again, while not being highly accurate, should provide me with movement..

Originally I was hoping to build a RepRap of one sort or another, but due to illness, my daughter is taking a year out of Uni which is where I was going to get the parts done on their 3d printer for material cost only, for which I think the parts I have would use been quite servicable.. Was also going to be able to get use of their laser cutter which I could have made a nice frame etc.. but hey ho..


the learning experience isn't really relative to using a CNC machine or getting one running
Agreed, the learning experiance for me is around the electronics and coding required to getting things whirring and buzzing, whilst keeping the "magic smoke" inside the various components :)


Far easier and cheaper to just save up and buy the real thing.!!
If you can show me mhere I can get the bits I have bought or the correct parts I have bought for under £30 I would agree with the cheaper... I understand what you are saying, in that I could (ok, probably will) end up with a 3axis cnc machine that isn't acurate and doesn't have enough power/torque to actually do anything other than shuffle around in a limited manner..

Kind Regards

Simon