Quote Originally Posted by Gytis View Post
Hello JAZZ, and thanks for your input !
now I'm sitting and scratching my head ..,
new design?, short as possible sides?, Z-axis below the level of the X-rails?, Hiwin rails 15-20mm?
Don't despair thats par the course with first machine.!!. . . I had full head of hair before getting into CNC now I'm follicle challenged. . Lol

To be honest I may have jumped the gun slightly because I didn't ask what you intend to cut with this machine.?

If soft materials plastics,softwoods etc then the high sides won't be a problem. There's no disputing the high sides are weaker design than no sides design but they do work ok in soft stuff if rest of gantry is stiff enough.

That said sorry to say your gantry design is very weak and the single piece of plate for gantry is real bad idea. Also the Y axis ballscrew hanging down is just asking to get clobbered with rubbish.

Look around the forum you'll see pics of similar built high side machines with strong gantry's, I've posted pics of similar machines I've built that use profile which is strong design and can handle cutting upto light aluminium work.