Quote Originally Posted by magicniner View Post
It could, but I've been making parts with my "rubber band" for a couple of years, how's it going with your "Doorstop" ?
Well enough:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVuBEEceWJ4
http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/3341-...illing-machine
http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/11220...-as-a-4th-Axis

Unfortunately I ran the stepper motor on the rotary table into my milling machine column (wasn't looking) last year and bent the worm gear, so I do have another doorstop! I'm now wondering if these are better than the price suggests:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Precision-...sAAOSwZ4dZHZkC

The problem with the direct belt drive method is the stiffness of the belt is quite poor compared to a harmonic or worm drive. Of course, it can be useful but that depends somewhat on the diameter of the material, your accuracy requirement and other factors. If the rotary table above is any good - i.e. "most" of the backlash can be adjusted out, then that plus a 1Nm stepper motor seems like an attractive option.