Graham - I applude and support however I can. I ask for some focus. I'll offer the following to (hopefully clarify):
WHO is the target audience? Rank beginner - or sometime user to full time machinist?
WHY are they interested? Hobby, part time home-based business, just like machines and tools -HARGGGH HARGHH.
HOW much can they spend? Time and Money.
HOW big based on the what'cha gonna do with it, but also how much space and power available.
WHAT are their skills? NONE - to advanced Machinist looking for a hobby machine, or to go into business and save some by DIY.
WHAT will they be building? How much
resolution do they need, what sort of
precission and how
accurate their finished product?
WHICH form of machine - Obviously based on WHAT, WHY and HOW; but is it a PCB board drilling machine - or a 18x9 foot router? Is it a LATHE conversion or a Plasma Cutter? A laser based engraving machine or something to cut dog collars and engrave ballpoint pens on?
HOW do they match servo/stepper to their needs, Power and torque, and alll.
Maybe I missed your point on review - the
perfect Home CNC book? If it is for someone that has a machine, DIY or bought off eBay, there are a different set of interests I'd propose too.
ROUGHING Pass and Final Cut - thoughts and techniques.
Types of tools used on a router for a variety of cuts.
Certainly feed and spped are alwyas a concern but whats the
smarts on up cut or down.
Tips to set up and alternatives to milling the parts - there was a great post a few weeks back that gave a good hint on "faking" 3D by how you plunge Z as I recall.
And as I type at my 3 works per fortnight I see Konstantin may have a lead - so I'll post this rather long-winded maybe useless item.
But ya got my juices goin'
Jim