Quote Originally Posted by m_c View Post
R&P can work if designed well, and you're not expecting micron tolerances.
Other options are rotating ball nuts, supported ball screws, high pitch ball screws.
There's not really an ideal solution, but as with most things, it can be done if you select the correct components.

But I hate to tell you, you can probably buy your machine on Aliexpress, if not, Alibaba.
I looked at a 4x4 machine, and there are some compelling options, but they're all built to a price.

It's a shame Jazz isn't about, as he's the one who really knows about Routers (I'm more metal working, than wood bothering!)
I'd hope nobody with a router is expecting micron tolerances!

A machine of this type can definitely be bought on there, hell, you can buy them direct from the manufacturer that makes them for mantech. I'm not naive enough to think this is anything other than a green painted generic Chinese machine, it's the UK sales and "support" you are paying the extra for...not that mantech have been any good.

I too am a metal worker though I'm still on manual machines, no CNC metalworking here but should be adding a surface grinder to the fleet soon!