[Eric]

I don't need something super expensive or sophisticated since this is not for produciton work or making money. I just need something so I can cut metal for my projects, motorcycles, jet skis, 4x4s, etc. I want to be able to cut arcs, large circles, 3D shapes, etc. I don't know if that means I need something more powerful than Mach2 and step and direction from a parallel port or if I need a multi axis motion card???? As far as the servo motors go, I think a 5TPI ballscrew with a 2:1 pulley reduction will give more speed than I could need ~ 400 IPM = 4000rpm / 5 TPI / 2:1 reduction.

I just want to mess around with an x-y CNC first and then I can worry about making the quil the z-axis and maybe my rotary table 4th axis.

I mostly machine aluminum and mild steel.

Thanks for any input.