The maker movement (maker is new term for d-i-y person) is proving to be great for model builders. What has changed is how the web has allowed a level of organization and support unheard of before. That and the advent of GNU (basically copyright-free licenses) software, which has led to the same type of licensing for hardware designs.
The 3D printer that I am building is a modification of a maker movement printer. awhile ago I bought a book on making a 3D CNC mill. The exact drawings in the book are for a way-too-big machine, but the drive and other details lend themselves to a much smaller modeler's version. AND, if I build it, there is free software available on line that will work, as long as I make the electrical design the same as in the book. There is getting to be a lot of software for computerized machining, including open source 3D CAD.
I have always built some of my own tools, like PE bender, chopper- even a small modeler's drill press (which has since been replaced with a commercial one). But this new computer controlled stuff is a real step up. Designed by a committee sometimes works, when the committee's hearts are in the right place!