You dont need high accuracy rails and carriages, but if you have, that's no problem. Provided that you fix them on perfectly flat surface. Download Hiwin manual, its all there...

Preload should be Light Preload for all purpose woodworking machine, including aluminum machining.

Carriages could be wide flange or not, it does not matter as far as its suits how to connect them

carriages i choose are xxHA type, as they are the longest ones /90mm/ but if the machine is not meant to be heavy duty it does not matter, anyway they are the same price normally.


I doubt it will be cheaper in UK than from Fred. depends on the weight though. I think you can have that package for 180$ from CN . For a full size machine ball screws and rails and all is around 450$ to ship. Now take care as to machine the screws in Europe is what is expensive 70 euro against 6$ in CN.

So probably if you buy rails, ball screws and spindle and VFD from Fred at once, it will be much cheaper with all, than buying from Europe. Or anyone else from China for that matter