Quote Originally Posted by Jonathan View Post
From the drawing it looks like the plan is to mount the rails on the top and bottom of the welded box section? If so you'll have problems with how much the steel will distort due to the welding. The rail spacing needs to be very accurate (guessing probably <0.05mm) for them to run smoothly, which is hard to get even before welding. Perhaps consider bolting them to a backing plate instead, since this allows adjustment to get the rails parallel. Also you will get much less deflection on this Y-axis if the ballscrew is placed between the rails. Currently when a force is applied parallel to Y, the Y-axis bearings can deflect in the same direction since there is a long horizontal distance (parallel to X) between the cutter and ballnut/rails.

If you decide to mount the rails on aluminium plate (as in post #15), then yes it is best to use tooling plate, but realistically the tolerances of the bearings are not that good so you would be fine with normal aluminium plate, but definitely not flat bar. If you were using profile rails then tooling plate would be the best option.
With reference to the section marked in bold, you simply cannot make such a sweeping statement, ive just welded my complete 7x4 and i used my dual dial guages one the gantry was clamped and ready to weld and there is no diference in the distorsion after welding or certainly no more than there was before the welding. If you weld it in the correct fashion and you have used a jig to hold the pieces, then it is fine. I will admit that if you use a 2mil rod on an old stick welder crank up the amps and weld 2mm box together you will have problems but a modern mig used to tack the items together before finishing the welding of it turns out fine, im not saying Its better than Ali, just that if care is taken during the welding of steel box no more surfacing and leveling will be required than before you welded it. Obviosly when mounting the rails onto the gantry you will have to do some remedial leveling work but its just not difficult, I will show you how ive done mine in the next week or so and it certaily ticks the 0.05 accuracy box you mention with ease


Rick