Advice and opinions 3 axis gantry for cutting Ply / Hardwoods

[Jeff]

Hi

I've been drawing up the plans for my machine and just wanted some feedback before I push the button and start getting plates made.

My design is based around 2010 lead screws for the X and Y axes and HGR 20 rails and bearings. X axis is 1500mm and Y axes are 1000mm, 2 rails / 4 carriages on the X and 1 rail / 2 carriages on each Y.

I don't have access to welding so the frame construction is going to have to be aluminium extrusions, I've gone with 2 8080 extrusions for the X and 4040 for everything else with 15mm aluminium plates for everything bar the Z mount plate which is 10mm plate.

I have a 3Kw 100mm water cooled spindle but I'm starting to have second thoughts about using it as it's absolutely massive and probably overkill for wood routing. I only bought it because it had been mis-priced on Amazon and the seller offered me a £100 off the revised price if I still wanted it. Because I'm not sure about what spindle I'm going to be using I haven't finished the design of the Z axis, but I have a 450mm 1605 ball screw and some 16mm supported rails, so I will probably use these.