L Style Gantry on a 6040 sized machine?

[Neale]

I can't remember exactly what size I asked then to quote for but one Perth supplier wanted well over $600AUD for two 1m lengths of aly profile inc delivery. That was why I spent $180 on a stick welder and built my gantry out of steel I scavenged off the tip.

I'm with Kit on that one - I'm sure that alu profile is quicker and easier to use but if you can't find it at a sensible price then steel is good. I'm a (very) novice welder but my steel gantry works fine. If circumstances force you down that route, that fine - you can still build a decent machine. Just remember the home-builder's mantra - if you can't build accurate, build adjustable!