Quote Originally Posted by Boyan Silyavski View Post
Ok. But...
Simplified plate 150x500x20mm aluminum is 4kg, steel is 12kg. Not so much weight, for what will bring as rigidity.
That's a cost 3 x weight increase for ridgidty gain that isn't needed in the first place. Then you add in the hidden cost's of lower acceleration which for a Z axis, esp if doing 3D or relief work is quite important. Then if you really need that acceleration it's a move upto Servo's and the extra cost there.!!

I agree 200m travel is excessive in most cases and 150mm covers 98% of work and tools used. But Reaping thru Aluminium at full extension like you say would be foolish thing to do and the cost for the less than 1% time you really have no choice is very high.

It's a simple fact that you can't have ridgidty without it costing something.!! . . . . Money or performance. Wood's etc needs higher performance so can live with lower ridgidty.