Hello Everyone as everyone normally starts on these things I have been Lurking here and CncZone for Quite a while soaking up as much information as I can although Now because I have read and reread so many different ways of creating a CNC machine I am starting to send myself around in Circles.

The vast amount of knowledge that you all have collectively if amazing so I am hoping to borrow a little.

I am a person that likes to make things anything really. Normally wood is what I am the most comfortable with but now am living with metal a little easier, I have bought myself a Tig welder and learning this too it is all building my tools to build My Ac Cobra replica that has sat in the garage for 4 Years waiting for me.

I want my Cnc to be a general help in the Home I have a 16 Month old daughter that I want to make everything for including a dolls House & for The Metal parts for the Cobra and Machining some Fibreglass Moulds from Foam, I have already bought my rails from Alibaba which I have had 20mm Supported Rails & C7 Screws and these were already machined and all bearings and holders are included and these seem very good quality the rails are 1100mm x 600 mm x 300mm.

Ok so the main issue is What to make it out of Steel or Aluminium Profile for the best strength I know that steel will be more rigid in theory but because of the Profile patterns running to the centre is this so ? are these stronger instead of a square tube, If it was steel I am thinking 50x50 but the main issue is can I weld it and make it without it twisting to get the build quality right, where if I use aluminium Profile I thought 60x60 from These guys ? Profile 6 : Aluminium Profile 6 60x60 I must say that the Aluminium would be my preferred build method because it takes me so long to finish anything these seems a little easier and so I might actually finish it one day.


I want to be able to possibly cut up to very thin steel but don't care really how many passes it would take for it to do it and it would only be occasionally and I wouldn't be after the highest tolerances because Otherwise it will be my hands and a hacksaw to do the job.

I have thought that I could use Aluminium profile and then initially use MDF to stiffen the Sides and the Horizontal slide and then machine the Sides out of 20mm Aluminium after with the CNC to get a better job and make it stronger as I go.

I am sorry to waffle on but I suppose really I am asking the age old Question is Aluminium profile as strong as steel or if ali the way to go for a start in CNC for my Hobby.

Thank you all for the great new hobby you have all enthused me into

Thanks Rob