I started building my own CNC this past winter and I'm about 80% complete. So far I've spent about $250 on hardware. This is based off the JGRO design, found on CNCZone.com, and expanded to make the cutting bed 24x36.

(3) Stepper Motors - $5 ea = $15
(3) Motor connectors - $.50 ea = $3 (w/ ship)
(1) Hobby CNC EZ controller - $70 (w/ship)
(1) 6' straight-thru serial cable - $25 (can you believe that?)
(1) sheet 3/4" MDF - $28
(1) sheet 1/2" MDF - $22
(1) 4' steel angle - $15
(3) set of skate bearings - $2 ea = $7 (w/ ship)
(6) 1/2" bearings - $1.50 ea = $9
(2) 1/2 - 10 Acme leadscrew - $10 ea = $27 (w/ ship)
(12) Acme nuts - $1.50 ea = $22 (w/ship)
Misc. nuts and bolts = $25

Total spent so far is $268

There are a few items I still need to get such as couplers and anti-backlash nuts (another $115 ), but basically it's all there. I'm using some demo and freeware software at the moment, although I do own a license of autocad.

I'll post pics soon. If anyone wants more info I'm more than happy to help.

Gyv

Wow, yes, please do post some photos. I'd love to see this.

I would like to see photos as well. Sources on the parts too. Steppers for 5$ sounds like a good deal.

My camera is out on loan at the moment.

Steppers for $5, I found them at the Crystal Ax-man. They're 260 oz-in series, 185 parallel. (I had to wire them parallel because of the board I bought, so I'm hoping they'll be strong enough to move my gantry.) I wasn't even planning on building my CNC for another year until I came across these. I'm hoping to cruise the other shops for more.

I bought my controller board from Hobby CNC. They have good boards and they come in a kit form so get to do all the soldering yourself.

I stole the power supply from one of my speaker projects. It's a cheap chinese 24v off ebay, but I'll upgrade to 36v or more someday.

Acme 1/2"-10 single start threaded rod and nuts I got from Enco. The rod is cheap at $10 per 6' length, but the nuts are $1.50 each. You might want to source those someplace else.

I'm still working on couplers and anti-backlash nuts. Those seem to be the hard to find expensive things to get. Although if someone has some HDPE or similar plastic block, and wouldn't mind helping me fab some up, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I ordered my couplers. I got 'em at a good price, only $24 for all 3 with ship. I also liberated my wife's old plastic cutting board so I can fab up my own anti-backlash nuts. It wasn't free though, the replacement was $14. The way I see it, the $38 I spent was way cheaper than the $115 I was planning on spending and I'm not taking that much of a performance hit, and I can always upgrade later.

I haven't attached the motors and drive screws yet, but I've worked out the play in the axis. There is some play due to torsion on the guide rails that I'll need to address, but for the most part I think it'll cut true.

Here's a photo of the completed bed and gantry (and one of my helpers).