Thoughts on Sorotec alu-line machine

[JAZZCNC]

What if you would compare these builds:

1. High sides, Z-axis travel 250mm. Frame made of 80x80 aluminium profiles. Gantry made of 80x160 and sat directly on the rails. Rails top mounted onto the 80x80's.

2. High gantry sides, same Z-axis travel. Gantry sides made of 30mm aluminium tooling plate. Frame made of 80x80 aluminium profiles. Gantry made of 80x160 and mounted to the gantry sides. Y-axis rails side mounted onto the 80x80's.

I understand the high sides build will always be stronger, unless you would make the gantry sides out of something much stiffer than what the frame would be made of.

Skickat från min SM-A530F via Tapatalk

Don't know what you want me to say because you already know the answer.? #1 is stronger it's that simple.
However, 250mm is a lot of Z travel so I would ask your self do you really need that much travel as it will weaken the machine if you use a typical Z-axis design. If you don't need 250mm of travel but require the clearance for material then you may be better looking at a design with an adjustable bed so can fit tall material but still have a nice strong Z-axis.

It really does come down to how you want to use the machine and with what materials. If your thinking to cut steels then I would forget both types of moving gantry and build a Fixed gantry machine from stronger materials.

Edit: If you want a design that's in between high Gantry sides and Sat directly on rails then here's one I built. Again this machine is built for working with mostly woods, it's also got a 4th axis which is why the gantry hangs over the side. The profile is 120 x 80 Item Section and the gantry is L shape design.