> 	The ebay seller  also recommend Mach3 for windows or EMC2 for linux.
> ( I use VMWare workstation, so am happy running up a copy of each just
> to see which is my favourite).
>   
Both EMC2 and MACH3 do the same thing.  EMC2 is for linux OS and MACH3 
for windows.
EMC2 is free but Mach3 costs about$150 for a license.  Having tried both 
I prefer Mach3. the have excellent tech support.
With EMC2 I was not able to even get it running.  It was the old thing 
of emc said it was a linux problem and linux said it was an EMC issue.  
But when its free what incentive do the software people have to help a 
newcomer to the product.

Mach3 has great forum group  go to their website to sign up.
http://www.machsupport.com/
You can download a working version of the software the only restriction 
is it is limited to 500 lines of Gcode.
>  I hadn't even thought of one thing someone said about making the
> front panels, great idea for prototypes.  
>
> 	I think one nice thing is the lack of chemicals in the spare
> bedroom, although I will lose the ability to make boards late at
> night (i'm thinking about noise here)
>   
A person of mine made an enclosure out of the 2" thick foam insulation.  
He held it together with duct tape.
He used a piece of 1/8" plastic for one side.  It really did a lot to 
keep it quiet and cut down on the dust getting on every thing.  It was 
just a temporary thing till he had time to decide on the final version.
>  The stuff I work on is mostly 0.1" pitch DIL stuff, although I do
> have a heap of SMD bits I really should use for some things. 
>  I did play with making a homebuilt CNC using some stepper motors and
> drivers from old Epson Dotmatrix printers, and have a working X and Y
> axis bed (not very accurate on the first run but it was a proof of
> concept) made from MDF/chipboard etc and whatever was in the shed ;) 
>   

lots of stepper driver boards  kits out there  do a search for hobbycnc 
and probotix.  Several others in Europe

Check out   www.Cuteminds.com
They have a lot of CNC for the electronics oriented people
  One thing to consider if you are going to make
> 	It seems like it will be a yes to buying one,  roll on payday :D It
> seems a lot to pay on a hobby tool, so if anyone wants to buy an
> almost unused Alto Saxophone (i can't play!) that will go towards it
> :D 
>
> 	-Jim
>   
BOB
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