3000x1500mm table drawing stage

[cropwell]

I have the feeling that, unless you get the rigidity and bracing right, then sending it away for machining will only result in distortion of the frame whilst being handled for transport. Epoxy levelling seems to be a better way to get the machine bed level and far less costly than transport and machining. I would love to see any quotes you get for getting it machined flat as any company with adequate kit to do 3000 x 1500 is going to charge mega for a one-off.

[JAZZCNC]

I have the feeling that, unless you get the rigidity and bracing right, then sending it away for machining will only result in distortion of the frame whilst being handled for transport.

Yes, the frame needs to be braced and welded completely if being machined but that's true anyway for a good machine whether machined or not. If done properly then transporting should make no difference.

Epoxy levelling seems to be a better way to get the machine bed level and far less costly than transport and machining. I would love to see any quotes you get for getting it machined flat as any company with adequate kit to do 3000 x 1500 is going to charge mega for a one-off.

Epoxy is ok but at this size, it's not cheap and it's very easy to get wrong. Also, while the epoxy method is much better than no prep of the surfaces it's still only an intermediate level of accuracy and again at this size very easy to get wrong (can you see a theme here.?)

Having the frame machined isn't as expensive as you might think, but yes it's not £150-£200 like epoxy but it's also not thousands as you might imagine it to do be.!
To be honest, I was just about to hit the button on buying/building a large machine for surfacing frames but our landlord recently sold the industrial estate so we may need to move premises so I'm holding off until it's decided as it won't be an easy or cheap machine to move, plus we have a large Hurco mill that weighs 9 ton and other smaller mills/equipment which will take some shifting. However, when we do then I will be building and offering the machining service and steel frames for sale.