Vcarve Pro (and other Vectric products) automates the addition of tabs (they're added in during the toolpath creation process, not drawn into the parts) to hold parts in place. The bigger issue is either finding downcut tooling or dealing with the tendency of upcut tools to lift thin material. I do a lot of manual holding things down with a stick to keep the tool from lifting the material and flapping it up and down. A vacuum table would make this unnecessary.
There are a couple "levels" of hobby cnc router. Many of the lower level are pretty weak, not rigid, etc. When you get to the level of CNCrouterparts, or k2CNC or shopbot things are pretty good. My router is no-where near a -+ 0.010 tolerance. If you want a better (longer lasting) machine, looking into something from Camaster is a good idea. The Stinger line is a good introduction into "real" linear bearings and heavy welded machines. Wildman runs a 4x8 stinger. Downside...... they ship assembled. They're heavy! The 2'x3' stinger weighs 450lbs.
Router motor bearings are designed for side-loads. I almost never use a 1/4" tool (it's all 1/8 or 1/16 and for one product, 3/32) and I cut (with a 1/8) at 60ipm in plywood at a 1/8" DOC. Not a big load compared to the profiling cutters they're designed for. The runout is constant (it's a wobble that makes the bit cut bigger than it really is) and can be compensated for. The first 3 years of my biz I ran PC 892 routers and used up two of them. Not from stress, but from running for hours and hours. The top bearings got tired. My 1.5 kW chinese spindle has better bearings in it and more power. For someone considering a small cnc router, a router motor is a great choice. Maybe buy some high quality collets from PreciseBits to improve the runout a little. It's a $100 motor, the spindle and VFD is more like $500 for chinese, way more for USA. A guy who wants to make some rocket parts will do just fine with a router motor. Buy a CNC machine that makes the router motor look a little small.
I'd suggest a Camaster stinger benchtop model WAY before a HAAS VMC that requires high pressure air, 3 phase wiring, and comes with a low RPM spindle. The HAAS mini-mill (12x16) weighs 3400 lbs! A VF1 from 1995 I found listed weighs 6400 lbs and wants 40A 240V 3phase.
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