My CNC machine is made from plans that I bought from Hobby CNC online...It is fairly simple to build, paying extreme attention to the squareness of the components. I invested 30 to 40 dollars on the wood for the unit, 30 dollars for the three rods needed, 65.00 for the controller kit and 100.00 for the steppers and 60.00 for the power supply. That is less than 300.00 for the machine.....the software really jacks up the cost, 175 for Mach 3 to control the machine and 150.00 for Cut2d to make the toolpaths. I have gotten everyone of the panels for a 737 done in cut2d, so anyone who has Mach 3 running their machine is welcome to what I have (if I can find it all). The material I am using right now is very light and costs about 27.00 for a 2'x4' piece, I can get a full overhead out of one piece, but there is no baclighting.
That will come next as I get better with the machine.