Gantry Aluminium thickness guidance

[dachopper]

Hi guys,

I have started acquiring components for a 1500x800x200 build area gantry style router, and still am undecided about the gantry end plate / x axis and z axis plate thickness required or recommended

I have seen some commercial hobby components as thin as 6mm aluminium for end plates, and read others recommending 15/16 minimum, or 20mm.

My Z height calls for an end piece of about 300 x 440 high. the X design has 2 x 80 x 80 T slot mounted with a 80mm gap for the X motor and ballscrew in the middle, then a 170 gap below to the mount plate on the Y axis



Can anyone give some advice on what happens if it's too thin, and what would work.

If guys use 20mm for the end plates, what do they use for the x axis and z axis plates?


All advice appreciated
Nick