Thanks silyavski for your quick reply, as far as the gantry design I have limited access to bigger box section and was intending to go with box section as this can be welded together. I have some people looking around for me to see what is available as I Can only have the so call scrap material.

if I make the frame 1600 for the x axis and 1480 long for the y axis would I be able to have a cutting area of 48"x48"

thanks