OK, putting the gantry C of G between the "X" bearings is obviously a good thing. In my waters I feel that trying to get the cutting tool axis as close as possible to the gantry (making the Z-axis assembly as thin as poss.) is also a good thing, any comments on this please? Obviously in terms of leverage it will reduce the twisting moment on the gantry a bit, but if you look at it in terms of purely lateral (cutting) force, then it shouldn't make much difference??