Quote Originally Posted by JoeHarris View Post
As I have no way of machining the aluminium plate apart from drilling holes - I have had thought that I would like to float.
If I was to temporarily replace all of the alu plate for MDF which I could route by hand - would I be able to then use the machine itself to machine the aluminium parts or is MDF too unstable and flexible to make this worthwhile? Has anyone done this in the past or did you all have metal working mills and lathes in your garages and sheds?!
It could be done but you would have to beef up the MDF parts considerably to cut aluminium and then take it careeful with the DOC.

I cut some of the parts for my first machine in Aluminium by hand using MDF templates and bearing guided cutter and very shallow pass's.!! . . .You need to be used to working with a powerfull router and have confidence and take it slow but it's do-able.! . . (scary as hell at first but soon settle down.)