First of all, figure out the maximum size of the piece you'd probably want to work with and your intended use... and how much tolerance/accuracy you can live with. (If you're going to use this to mill XLR holes, does your XLR, pot and switch holes need 0.0001" accuracy and are you willing to spend the extra $$$$ for that accuracy?)
It's a big investment $$$. So get the one you really need.
>X = 9.5", Y = 5.5", Z = 6.0"
I looked at the Taig and almost bought one... I was in contact with Nick Carter... almost pulled the trigger to buy one. I'm sure it's a nice, well-built machine... but the small X travel kept bugging me, that I just couldn't live with it.
I want one where I can lay down a 19" panel and just let it rip and walk away. I don't want the do one half, wait, and slide the piece and do the other half.
I also do engraving of acrylic, wood and other materials... just for fun. So being able to put a big piece on the table is nice.
Personally, I say keep looking if you want to be able to do 19" wide panels in one pass.
Eventually, I found a ready made DIY CNC on eBay... big size, big travel, (12" x 21" x 4" ), NOT made of MDF... made of 80/20 aluminum, all thick aluminum construction. Only the bed is MDF wood... (and even that, I'm going to replace it with 80/20 flat aluminum pieces). Cost: $800+ (and includes the motor controller, and NEMA motors, and rotozip mount)
Be careful. This gets expensive fast. Next your going to want a lathe, then a band saw, then a press, then an air compressor
Totally true. Don't forget cost of software, bits and other little tools.