Double gantry idea, What do you guys think?

[D.C.]

Is that 1mm sheet metal all that is forming the back of the gantry?

I don't think you will get that much of an improvement using supported rail attached to that stuff, you will need to beef up the back of the gantry so that the supported rails can transfer force into gantry otherwise the supported rails will flex almost as much as the unsupported ones do at the moment.

Going to supported rail on the gantry will also mean that you will need a Z-axis mount (I think) as from the pics it looks like the bearings for your current rails are all in one block.

[craigrobbo]

Is that 1mm sheet metal all that is forming the back of the gantry?

I don't think you will get that much of an improvement using supported rail attached to that stuff, you will need to beef up the back of the gantry so that the supported rails can transfer force into gantry otherwise the supported rails will flex almost as much as the unsupported ones do at the moment.

Going to supported rail on the gantry will also mean that you will need a Z-axis mount (I think) as from the pics it looks like the bearings for your current rails are all in one block.

I was only going to support the Y axis, The X axis is too much hassel with it being an all-in-one block.

Thats why I was thinking of the double gantry and supported Y axis

[JAZZCNC]

DC these 3040's call the long Axis Y axis and Z axis is attached to X axis.!!

Craig the X axis block could easily be modified to accept open bearings then beef up the gantry with a strong plate and then drill and support the rails from behind.
This along with supported rails on the Y axis should help greatly and not cost a fortune.

Other than that then I wouldn't bother and sell the whole thing and build a far stronger machine from scratch.

[wilfy]

Other than that then I wouldn't bother and sell the whole thing and build a far stronger machine from scratch.

when you factor in that my machine will be all steel built, have supported rails, the right steppers/psu as advised via this forum a cutting area of around 500x550 with a 2.2kw spindle and it's going to cost under 1k i'd say it's very likely you would certainly do well to follow deans advice.