Starting with a folder is ambitious. You sound like you are ideally placed and have access to a lot of tools, but a folder has a lot of aspects that have to work for the whole to function, any one of which, if it isn't right, will spoil the finished product even if you do everything else right. I have read a lot of people say that people who make fixed blades find that starting making folders is a bit of a jump. Looks like you were inspired by Allen Elishewitz?
This may be why you haven't had more replies. I am not a folder maker, but there look to be a bunch of things that need to be changed on the design you posted, and I am sure that experienced folder makers will see even more. When faced with offering advice where there are so many things to talk about folk are likely to put aside replying till they have a block of time, or they may just not ever get around to it.
You could use your CNCs to profile out your pattern in some sort of sheet plastic, something you can assemble easily with dowel pins, file bevels on and handle, without the expense of final materials. You will learn a lot from that prototyping activity.
Have you considered making parts for an existing folder? There are a lot of people who make new handle scales for factory knives, and some that regrind blades. You could do some very cool things with your CNC for handles. You would have to buy the base knife, which isn't all bad since you will get a chance to learn and see how it is put together. Benchmade Griptilians are popular for this. There are threads about it in the Maintenance and Tinkering area, and the Benchmade area.
