"DeusEx"

[JAZZCNC]

Thanks chaps! Jazz, that's alloy porn! LOL, Very pretty Is it in use or planned for the next one?

No not in use, Like a lot of stuff I do and make it was designed to make best use of cheap available materials, in this case the machine was going to be for a guy who had bought some really cheap 150x9.5mm Ali and was on a real tight budget.
It actually never happened due him losing his job scraping the project, I ened up buying the Ali off him which luckly for him was is only outlay upto that date.

The location of the supported rails on their side is unusual isn't it? Most of the ones I've seen seem to be in the up/down axis usually one facing up and one facing down. Any reason for doing it that way?

If you mean the Y axis rails then No they where just drawn that way, they could go either way round. The back plate and rail was just put there for affect really and this was just quick mock up drawing really not actually a finished design in any way. . . . . . Only posted to give some idea how thinner material could be used put still give a stiff Z axis.!!

Regards your design I'm slightly struggling fully under stand the layout but my first initial reponse would be "WHY".??? . . . . Why all the complexity when you won't really gain any extra support over a conventional Z axis.

The way you have it drawn you are still relaying on just 2 rails/bearings and if the bit with rail on top thats jutting out from the Y axis with rails top n bot is not directly mounted to the gantry sides or X axis bearings plate then your in big trouble.!

If Z axis was supported on 4 sides with rails/bearings then yes I could see the bennifit but can't see any how you have it now. . Plus still the jutting out bit would need attention.

If you have the length and done right then the wide gantry with central Z axis (Ala Mech mate) can be very strong it just cost's MORE, more expense, more real estate, more work.! . . . trick is working out if it's worth that much MORE.:question: