Hi, thanks for the advice. I knew I forgot to put something in there! This is primarily just a hobby but who knows, maybe I can start making some bespoke items to start paying for the machine and as such I started with a machining area of about 600mm x 800mm but because I have built a few arcade machines I am leaning more towards 600-800mm x 1200-1500mm. I am still not sure how big I want to go yet but I would hate to build a machine only to find it is too small for any of my projects, although if it is an open end design I could always machine one half and then flip it.
If I use 1610/2010 ballscrews, how will this affect the cutting of aluminium or accuracy, what kind of feed rates could i expect from a well tuned setup with 1605?
I was planning on using the channel in an L or T configuration for the gantry anyway but do you mean also for the base because I would have them spanning the bed also but not directly butted to each other. The drawing was just a quick sketchup to explain how I plan to join the channel to the plates.
Also I have no access to a mill, lathe or anything at the minute, what do you think my chances are of producing anything decent with just a pillar drill and vice? I will obviously have to find a way to face the ends of the channel but first things first I will get some drawings done and see what you guys think.
Also I will have to take a look over Jonathons build to see how he did it.
Lots of questions still and I have been reading lots!