Was about to get a toy- then I did some research...

[Juranovich]

Best would be if Spindle centre /the bit/ does not go further than than carriage, machine looked from side . But If not possible its not a problem . If square linear rail is used. Though for metal work i say better not, for a perfect finish i mean.

Red line shows the ideal, blue line the normal. I would say 250-260mm span for me is the minimum of the gantry legs/ bearings

I've planned on using a 250mm span between the outer ends of the square linear rail carriages and as it stands right now the arms would look like the blue lines in your sketch (though if cog is centered with centre of carriages the bit would fall outside or just on the outer edge of the front carriage). For reference the alu extrusions are 45x90.