Quote Originally Posted by wilfy View Post
i'm thinking more about engraving and cutting small pieces of mdf and acrylic. i'd be happy to sacrifice speed, if it reduces the cost
Ok this is were people get it wrong regards speed and machine strength in relationship to materials, or more importantly what they think are soft materials.?

When cutting things like MDF and plastics like acrylic then you need certain amount of speed other wise the finish is rubbish and tool life is drasticly reduced. These speeds or feed rates are higher than most realise, so the small sacrifice in favor of costs becomes the Achilles heel of the machine.! . . . Normally not worth it. .. BUT.? . . . If decent sized rails are used with good end support then on a small machine like this then they can be ok.

Personally I wouldn't use them because the difference between supported and unsupported isn't great enough and the performance difference is substantial enough to warrant. Also if your thinking to keep short term then it makes the machine far more valuable and sell-able than one that doesn't.? Put it this way if someone says to me "what you think to this".? . . I'd say stay clear it uses unsupported rails.!!