New mill, which motors?

[Muzzer]

I had large cast iron wheels like that on my Bridgeport. I couldn't get a decent response from the DMM servos until I removed them. Their moment of inertia was much bigger than the ballscrew itself and the reflected inertia of the table and vise, particularly on the X axis which had 2 of the buggers. As I have an MPG, turns out I never use the handwheels anyway but your solution would be a pragmatic middle way.

[Robin Hewitt]

Oh yes, don't give up on your handles, I am fighting to keep the dials. What is MPG? Miles per gallon doesn't seem to fit the context

Not fighting to keep these ghastly, spring-loaded, press in before you can turn it handles though.

New handles need paint - wondered if aluminium coloured paint existed - had forgotten about alloy car wheels - spoilt for choice

[Neale]

MPG - manual pulse generator. Handheld controller, pendant, or somesuch. My router doesn't have handwheels and I don't bother on my mill either. Wireless mpg or MDI on controller does the job. It's easier than folding out the handles on the handwheels and quicker as well - I can't wind by hand that fast!