Thanks for the reply. You didn't miss the info. I should have included that. Here goes....
Background/Intended Use: I'm a Mechanical Engineer who has been doing woodworking as a hobby for several years. I've always enjoyed doing things dealing with automation/robotics as well and the CNC router seemed like an excellent way to combine the woodworking and automation interests to learn something new. My initial intended use is from the hobby side but I don't want to limit myself to that when building the machine. I'd like to keep the door open for some future side income generation or small business applications (i.e. light production).
Machine Size/Working Material: I'm planning on a machine capable of cutting 4'x8' sheets of plywood, mdf, etc. I realize the additional complexity this size brings to the design, but I'm not going to start on it till I'm confident I've covered everything in advance. Reading everything on this site for the past 7 months, I have learned a lot and I think I know what to watch out for (I hope
). The 4'x8' capacity will also give me the most flexibility in integrating the router into the woodworking I already do (cabinets, yard art, etc.). I would expect most of my initial work to just be 2.5 D and in wood. Again, I'd want have the capability down the road to cut in 3D and do some light work in Aluminum.
Experience - I have some past CAD experience from my current job. For the most part a basic understanding, but I pick up on it fairly quick. I've used a couple of different CAD packages, but I'm not locked into anyone. I have no CAM experience and would be starting out fresh there. General computer knowlege is good. I'm a little weak on the electrical side of things, hence the reason for not wanting to really go full DIY on the controller.
Budget - My initial budget is around $5K. It's flexible however if I can justify it to "the boss".
I hope that helps a little bit. I see what you are saying about the Shopbot. I guess I'm a little stuck on them since I have been following them since they introduced their first cable driven machines many years ago. Up until now, I never had the time, money, or space to think about buying one though. In the meantime, I came across this site and realized that there are several other ways to do what Shopbot is doing for less money and with better performance (and a lot more time). Given my weak electrical troubleshooting skills, I just don't want to find myself pulling my hair out (well...what's left of it) late at night trying to figure out what's wrong with my DIY built controller if the machine goes down. I'd like to have the peace of mind of a "proven" control system. Maybe Shopbot's not the best choice. What are some other options?