trying to keep the machine close to the cutting area

[Desertboy]

originally i was making this to also cut acrylic and thin aluminium, i have no idea what is over the top for just doing wood cutting.

Steel is cheaper than aluminium so if you have the skills go steel every time! I would have built a steel router if I hadn't recovered my aluminium from an old magazine printer I paid £30 for all the aluminium extrusion in my machine otherwise it would have been over £300 from KJN with, the cutting, drilling & T nuts for Hiwin's only was another £100 (Which I had to pay for)

I've also spent a good £50 on A2 stainless steel bolts to assemble mine and I already had probably 1/2 the bolts there's over 200 bolts in my router from M3 (limit switches) to M12 lol it all adds up.

I'll be cutting some Oak on my router next week in the middle of the bed so I'll tell you how she does then lol, but having a stronger machine than mine would mean you can run it faster which is always good.