The real triangle in CNC is
Working Area/Rigidity/Speed
And raising each one of them costs MONEY
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The real triangle in CNC is
Working Area/Rigidity/Speed
And raising each one of them costs MONEY
Very true. And for a given price point working area and rigidity are inversely proportional, so aiming for a modest work area as you are and not expecting to build a machine rigid enough for cutting metal and large enough for handling sheet timber is your most significant decision.
I see the size sequence like this, having in mind well made machines:
CNC mini MIll ===> 45x45 or 60x60cm fixed gantry===> 60x90cm==> 125x125cm===> 250x130cm===> 400x200cm
60x90cm machine can cover many areas of interest, even sobe basic signage could be made from wood and some normal jobs for separate letters. I think is the most versatile together with a fixed gantry 60x60cm
125x125cm can do a whole sheet moving the sheet so it's a great compromise between a pro machine and limited space. I dont like and i wouldn't recommend 100x200 machine if not for a specific purpose. A whole sheet in Spain is 122x244cm so ...
250x130 is mine machine and for normal jobs for me is perfect. But if for a business where there are more than 2 people involved, its limited. Not suitable for a dedicated signage machine
Best for do it all
400x200 is best for signage work