@clolsonus thank you, those do look interesting, potentially for hang gliding. For the Carver though I'd rather keep it relatively simple, just a screen reflected off the windscreen would do me fine if I could find one bright enough...

Really, this sort of thing is what I'm aiming for!

The brightest screens I can find seem to top out about 1,400 nits. This is the same as my Google Pixel phone on max brightness, so I experimented with reflecting that off the screen. It was great at night, borderline OK in overcast daylight, but not good enough in sunlight, so I need something brighter, like at least 2000nits. It doesn't need high resolution, just brightness. I could use actual LED's for things like a bar graph, and a 7 segment display for text, but ideally I'd like a bit more.

@concretedog there's a bit more about it here:
https://www.freesteel.co.uk/wpblog/category/machining/page/4/
I could imagine this being developed into something with precured CFRP tubes joined by machined metal nodes to make the frame. Since you could machine the nodes with the same machine it would be like the original RepRap project which bootstrapped 3D printing. Could be very cool. Unfortunately, yet another idea for a project I'll never have time to pursue!

@concretedog I also looked at the Carvera but this edged it on specs. It has it's own (proprietary :-( ) software, which I'll certainly use initially. Only if I can't get it to do what I need will I start tinkering with other options! As I say, tool, not project (I hope!)

@concretedog @rpimag Cool, that's a large format one for cutting wood? I've got a Nestworks CNC on the way (I supported their Kickstarter), opposite end of the spectrum, very small working envelope but rigid for cutting metal. I'm very much hoping that it'll be a tool not a project also!
Btw have you ever talked to @goatchurch about the triangular CNC he worked on? That was a really neat project, I'd love to see progress. Rotational axes instead of linear, spaceframe design so rigid but light.

@concretedog @rpimag What's the CNC?