Yours is a more complex question than you might think. A lot of the cost has to do with your own skill set.
Do you know anything about mechanical systems? On a homebuilt CNC, they're not very complex, and can be easily built from available materials, including MDF and common pipe.
Do you know anything about electronics? If so, you can build your own drivers -- if not, this half will be the expensive part of the project. A set of easily available driver boards can cost around $80-100 for the machine (3 axis, 1 driver per axis) and you can save money by getting a kit. Fully assembled and tested circuits will cost more, obviously.
There are people on this forum who have built entire machines for under $100, by judicious use of their own skills and "scraps" they had in their workshops. Others have spent thousands of dollars for amazing machines that rival, and sometimes surpass, commercial units.
-- Chuck Knight |