Quote Originally Posted by Ross77 View Post

I plan to build a similar heavy duty fixed gantry mill, better not mention that I want it to cut steel. He he
With a smallish (600x400?) working area and a strong solid fixed gantry machine, I do not see why steel should be
too much of a problem. My machine (converted commercial PCB drill/router) had a steel section right across the middle of the aluminium table that was used to locate dowelled stacked boards for drilling etc. Careless use by the previous owners operatives has led to to both the alluminium and steel parts of the bed covered in holes and grooves all over the place!!! These have maily been cut with sub 1mm cutters, which probably did end up breaking, but not before inflicting serious scars everywhere. With a slower speed spindle, and the right cutter I feel sure that I could cut steel, but would not need to be greedy with regards to feed speed DOC etc. G.