20 questions - long

I am planning on building 2 xyz tables this winter. One will be a
small one (12x18)for drilling circuit boards and routing 1/4 inch
acrylic/plastic auto tags (can you believe they asked me almost
11,000 for a commercial one that was basic). For the smaller table,
where the z axis is not critical, will a piece of all thread do the
job ok? I plan on using this controller at the link below.

http://www.electronics-lab.com/projects/pc/008/

does anyone see a problem with this board or is there a better route?

what stepper motors would you recommended for the small one(in/oz)
(brand)?

what router motor would be good?

I can handle the power supply end (finally something i can do)

On the large unit, i would like to make it 48x96 workable area
and put a router in it to mainly work up to 2 inch wood. Could all-
thread be used on the z axis here as the weight of the router would
seem to me to control the backlash ? Anyone have good working
combination similar to this please let me know.

Oh yes, and software. Can anyone steer me as to what they would
recommend on this type of configuration?

In case someone is wondering, i would like to stay in a 2k budget on
all of this. From some of the sites i have seen on the web i may be
better buying some item pre-made. Suggestions?

Sorry my ? button is stuck. but all i have managed to do is throw
away a bunch of big boat anchor printers with good steppers in them.


I have browsed the web and seemed to come full circle and i am not
much better on hardware

I have experience in electronics/computers, a smithy 3 in 1 lathe
(yes, i would like to convert this to cnc later) and a roland vinyl
cutter that i think runs something like hpgl or some proprietary
language with an interpreter on the board.

I just have hardly any experience in this area. THe last thing i ran
was an IBM 7535 and 7545 radial arm :)