m_c,

Thanks for the offer and I might take you up on it after you get back from the holidays. As right now swamped in getting product done and designing 4 new combs for chromatic harmonicas (different makes and reed count) cover sets plus variation for 6 different chromatic models, plus I have have clients work in bound that I need to have everything ready for and then add building concertinas to ship to folks as demo's and to see response in sales. Let's just say the days are busy and long (but I like them that way or I get bored and depressed, better to have things to do).

Folks,

Would 12mm thick alli' with precession rails (Hiwin type) 15-20mm be strong enough for a Y axis of 410mm (current machine) 600mm (project machine). Looking at bolting it to the uprights for the gantry as don't have access to welding equipment and from what I can figure 3-4 bolts per side should be strong enough (spaced to spread the load) looking at having having 100mm between centres on the rails with a 12mm Trapezoid or 10mm ballscrew (depending on what I can afford at the time) driving the Z body on it. Z would have 150mm travel and looks to be 15mm precession rails with a ballscrew. The Z would be 150mm wide to help decrease some of the torque forces, even though that will decrease my available travel in Y (the trade off is worth it to me). Any and all opinions would be welcomed even.

Michael.