Quote Originally Posted by Juranovich View Post
2. This might be impossible to answer without more details, but I'll give it a go. I currently have planned about 150mm of Z travel which would make the gantry plates roughly 500mm in height as measured from the X (long) axis side mounted rails to the top (ie the plates would extend a further 100mm below the cutting bed). Does this seem OK or would it be advisable to give up some Z travel in favour of shorter gantry plates?
You'll always get a stiffer solution with less Z travel, but I wouldn't have said 15cm is unreasonable. Also depends on if the bed is adjustable or not - if not you have to consider the clearance height of any clamps or vises you plan to use. Having said that, it sounds like you're implying a 25cm (500-100-150) tall gantry? Without seeing the design its hard to say, but sounds quite hefty!