Getting started
I am a machinist with 28 years of experience. and with that in mind I have made a small hobby cnc portal cutter .wide 1200 mm long 1100 mm and height 1200 mm with the possibility that it can get bigger. And I have a work area-wide 800 mm long 800 mm and high 350 mm. I have made it in aluminum profiles 40 x 80 and 40 x40 mm and the portal is made in 15 mm aluminum plate which my pull plates are also made in. And my pull rods are ø 25 ball spindles with stitching 5 mm per turn. 
Control, software drivers.
I have made it so stiff because then I can mount any head I want. Right now run it with a cutter mount. So I can do reliefs and other difficult work. But I can also cut into foil and make drawings. And I also have the option of mounting a laser head on it. But so far I have not come up with my investment yet. Because all basic cnc work depends on the coordinate system. I control my machine with Linux cnc . Because it is free and runs on basic iso programming. And Linux cnc has its own pc station which is not connected to the internet so there are no delays when running a program. And I have 20 years of experience with Heidenheim-controlled machines. So for me it is simple to understand how Linux cnc works and respond to the commands that I give it. I make my programs primarily on fusion 360. Because for me, it’s easy to get that program to do what I want. Also because The license I have is also free. But there is no right or wrong way to do things if only it works for you. As long as you just have it in mind. Then it can not go completely wrong for you.
I also have a 4 – 5 shaft system for my machine but I have not yet got power for it. So more articles. Follows as I get more hooked up to my machine. I hold my items firmly with aluminum braces. But it is again individual. But I like to get to grips with my items, again my experience playing me an important lesson. I can run in all materials because the machine is as stiff as it is. Ranging from acyl over wood to aluminum and iron. It just depends on speed and knowledge of how your machine runs in what kind of material. 
Making things
I also download STL files on the internet. As I then do on my machine I can not take the credit for having stood for them but they are made on my machine. For that, I have 5- 7 different software that I use to generate my g code program with. 
I made a cutting board for one of my friends too. 
DIY presents
I’m just now making a doll cradle for one of my friends’ daughters. Which I have had the honor of doing. And I make it for the bottom so drawings and calculations and all. It will be made of 10 mm plywood so that the doll will sleep so well and not even if she jumps in her bed does not ruin it.
This is a model that I use as a template it is one that my father made for good 40 years ago.
Components list to build your own CNC
| 2 pieces | Boch alignment rails 30 mm | 1100 mm |
| 2 pieces | Boch alignment rails 30 mm | 1070 mm |
| 8 pieces | Boch alignment carts 30mm | |
| 2 pieces | Boch alignment rails 20 mm | 500 mm |
| 4 pieces | Boch alignment carts 20mm | |
| 1 pieces | aluminum plate | 15 x 1500 x2000 mm |
| cut up to : | ||
| 1 pieces | aluminum plate | 15 x 500 x 220 mm ( Back plate for one direction on portal ) |
| 1 pieces | aluminum plate | 15 x 500 x 170 mm ( Back plate for cutter ) |
| 2 pieces | aluminum plate | 15 x 210 x 980 mm ( Side pieces on portal ) |
| 1 pieces | aluminum plate | 15 x 350 x 1230 mm ( Back plate for portal ) |
| 1 pieces | aluminum plate | 15 x 200 x 1230 mm ( Pull plate for portal ) |
| the framework for the work area : | ||
| 2 pieces | extruded aluminum | 40 x 80 x 1100 mm |
| 1 pieces | extruded aluminum | 40 x 80 x 1000 mm |
| 4 pieces | extruded aluminum | 40 x 40 x 1000 mm |
| 2 pieces | extruded aluminum | 40 x 40 x 45 mm |
| 2 pieces | extruded aluminum | 40 x 40 x 75 mm |
| 24 pieces | Esutered aluminum angles joints | 40 x 40 mm |
| 4 pieces | machine feet | M8 x 50 mm |
| 2 pieces | extruded aluminum ( For mounting one axis direction ) | 40 x 40 x 1200 mm |
| 2 pieces | extruded aluminum (For mounting z axis direction ) | 40 x 40 x 500 mm |
| And various bolts and nuts | ||
| 10 pieces | Pass pins | Ø 6 H7 |
| plan for my work area : | ||
| 13 pieces | extruded aluminum | 40 x 80 x 1040 mm |
| 2 pieces | MDF plate | 20 x 800 x 1200 mm |
| 8 pieces | extruded aluminum T track | 12,8 x 30 x 800 mm |
| For the machine to run | ||
| 2 pieces | Ball spindles | 25 x 1000 mm 5 mm increase Per round |
| 1 pieces | Ball spindles | 25 x 500 mm 5 mm increase Per round |
| 3 pieces | Ball spindle nut | 25 mm x 5 mm increase Per round |
| 3 pieces | buckle block | Ø 25 |
| 3 pieces | BK15. fixed ball spindle bracket | |
| 3 pieces | BF15. floating ball spindle bracket |
| 3 pieces | Flexible coupling | Ø8 x Ø12 D25 L30 mm |
| 3 pieces | 23 Nemas long engine | |
| 3 pieces | Stepper driver | DM 542 A |
| 1 pieces | break out board | DB25-1205 |
| 1 pieces | Power supply | 5 V |
| 2 pieces | Power supply | 36 V |
| 1 pieces | PC workstation | with a linux operating system ( Linuxcnc ) |
| 4 meters | Power cables flexible protector | |
| 1 pieces | Milling motor | Kress 1050FME-P |
| With this run my machine with the 3 axes . So to get it running with 4 – 5 axes : | ||
| 1 pieces | Cradle with turntable | |
| 2 pieces | Stepper driver | DM 542 A |
| 2 pieces | Contacts | To disconnect my power supply and stepper |
| 1 pieces | Power supply | 24 V |
| And as extra equipment I have : | ||
| 1 pieces | 4 Axis USB Wireless handwheel | |
| 1 pieces | 3 Axis usb motion keyboard | |
| 1 pieces | mini compressor | For my fog lubrication and my vacuum plan |
| 1 pieces | Vacuum plan | |
| 1 pieces | Foil cutting knife | |
| 9 pieces | Clamping bushings 2- 10mm | For Kress milling motor |
| 1 pieces | Tool sets | |
| 1 pieces | emergency stop button | |
This is just my way of doing it. But it is not a list of facts. On how we do it. Just you have fun while playing with it then it can not go completely wrong.
If there is more you would like to know, please ask me.