Design ideas finally drawn up for your opinions please

[Hopey]

Ok so my original idea of a wooden build is out the window and is going to be steel instead. I've got a TIG welder I can borrow from work and I'm currently learning to use it properly at college.

Meantime I've been messing around in Sketchup (learning to use it too) and have started getting my ideas drawn up.

The machine will have an overall size of 1200 x 800 and hopefully around 1000 x 600 ish working area and a 100 Z axis. It will be used for hardwood, plastic and maybe a little aluminium from time to time. I'm wanting to have the ability to add a 4th Axis at some point so I've designed the bed with a space in the centre where it can be added and also space at the end to accommodate an end clamp for woodwork joints.



The base will be build in five parts, two sides held together by the "N" shaped braces. The legs and braces will be 50x50x3 box section the top will be 50x50x3 angle and the lower brace (running parallel to the floor) will be 50x25 box section. The end plates on the "N" sections where they will be bolted to the sides will be 5mm thick.

The bed will be 100x50x3 box section on the sides, with the X axis rail being mounted on the upright pieces. Hopefully this should give good strength. The middle braces on the bed will be 50x50x3 and will be doubled up at the clamp end the idea being that two pieces welded together will be stronger than a single 100x50

I've been messing around sketching (old school style with a pen and pad) ideas for the gantry but really can't decide if it should be steel or aluminium extrusion. Initially the idea was to make it in 3 piece of 100x50x3 box section arranged in a " ] " shape but I'm open to suggestions here......