I`ve been wanting a little CNC machine for the last couple of years, not specifically for anything, just to learn more about it really. I feel I`m doing well with my manual machines and want to keep machining that way. I`m learning all the time and this cnc build is just to help me learn the basics of cnc, not to take over my manual work (slightly irrelevent, as this machine won`t be up to it anyway!). I just don`t dare start from scratch and anything more complete is too expensive, as is buying a bench mill and converting. So this is a cnc build based on confidence and available funds.
I started with a TEP cnc mill. One went on ebay a while ago for about 200 and just the other day another went for £350!! I can assure you I paid only a fraction of that price for mine. These are a sturdy machine and quite well made...just a dreadful design and dreadful software which is locked onto the driver hardware!!
I was lucky enough to get hold of the original TEP software (isn`t available from anywhere!!) and it was dreadful. Imagine MSWindows Paint, no numberical input (so no saying I want a 20mm line, 10mm from the origin!!, just simple drag and click stuff!!) Then from that, tell the machine to move.
Here is the machine from purchased:


Very very bizzare design and many machine limitations:
Cons:
In my opinion the x axis should be mounted so the slides are vertical parallel, not horizontal.
No z axis, it is just a solanoid motor to raise and lower the spindle to a fixed level.
All hardware is locked so commands can only be sent from the PC interfaced by the TEP software - it won`t talk to Mach or EMC
Stepper motors are only about 50Ncm
Both axis are fixed off centre to allow space at the back for the electronics
Only 12v 5A supply.
Pros:
I had a working CNC machine as a basis
If all else failed, I strip it down and the ally bar/plate is worth more than the price I`d payed for the machine !

In truth, there is little going for this other than having a solid working basis to start from.