Help a noob plan a build please

[JAZZCNC]

Thanks for reply. I understand the principle now (and the geek in me is finding it facinating). I kind of feel I need to make a bad machine to find the pitfalls before making a proper one or one that suits my preferences.

You can build a perfectly fine machine first time provided your willingness to do the research and listen to good advice. The trick is weeding out the good advice of expereinced builders from the ARM chair builders who mostly talk shite.! . . . Fortunately you have come to the correct place because most on here are either experienced builders or part time builders who have done the research but not quite reached the end yet. We don't have much time for the Arm chair builders here.!!

Feel like I need to overthink the gantry design/weight/speed as this will dictate the size and cost of everything else. With that being said, it looks like you could build a solid machine for C. £2.5k. Not bad considering the retail price of these things.

Not a chance of building a machine this size properly for £2.5k. You'll be lucky to build it for £4k and it will be more like £5k when finished. Don't try to do it on the cheap because it never ends well and often ends up costing you more in long run to get it working right or worse pisses you off and the job stops.!