Quote Originally Posted by WoodKnot View Post
What do you think of the indy build, it looks substantial without going over the top.

It would be a good starting point, having your experience to assess it.

Thanks
It will be a good starting point to learn, however, I wouldn't call it substantial by any means and it will show when you start to take deeper cuts with larger tools, it will especially show in harder materials like Aluminium or Brass and even some hardwoods.
The problem with machines made like this with a relatively small profile is the vibrations that affect the tool when cutting. The resonance thru the frame causes chatter at the tool which at best leads to poor surface finish and excess tool wear but more often than not tool failure, esp in materials like aluminium or brass.

Don't underestimate the strength needed for a good CNC router, you don't need the strength because you are going to mill huge heavy lumps of material, you need it to dampen vibrations and stop flex etc. Designs like these just don't have the mass, bracing and strength to allow cutting material correctly.

It's a common mistake new users make to think that they can cut at any speed they like so if the machine is weak they will just slow down because they are not in a rush and it's just for fun.! . . . . Well as anyone who has built a weak machine will tell you it's no fun snapping cutters like carrots and wrecking expensive material and quickly gets frustrating not to mention expensive.
Every material and tool requires a certain feed and speed to cut correctly and the machine plays a large part in this, so if the structure can't handle the required feeds then your always going to struggle.

However, as a learning exercise then it's a fair design for a first build, just don't expect too much from it.