First time build - Steel Frame CNC Router

[JAZZCNC]

Was quoted the following for it all to be cut:
Aluminium (All 20mm Thick Plates):
Qty 2 – 225 x 60 @ £11.50 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 300 @ £26.15 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 250 @ £19.50 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 140 @ £15.75 each
Qty 1 – 200 x 60 @ £10.00 each
Qty 4 – 30 x 70 @ £6.25 each

Little on the expensive side if just cut pieces. It would all come out of piece less than 500 x 500 and thats allowing for cutting. If machined with holes etc then yes it's cheap.

If just cut pieces of aluminium then Aluminium warehouse are cheaper. But Often worth asking local engineer for good supplier. My supplier doesn't deliver down your way but to give an idea i would get all that for just half what your being asked and that would be Ground cast Machine plate.

[Davek0974]

Just for reference, these are from Aluminium warehouse, last week....

2	Aluminium Plate: EcoCast - 20.0 mm - 550mm x 242mm	£55.80	£111.60
1	Aluminium Plate: EcoCast - 15.0 mm - 400mm x 160mm	£20.29	£20.29
1	Aluminium Plate: EcoCast - 15.0 mm - 320mm x 160mm	£16.26	£16.26
1	Aluminium Plate: EcoCast - 15.0 mm - 500mm x 160mm	£25.33	£25.33
2	Aluminium Plate: 6082 T651 - 10.0 mm - 471mm x 150mm	£10.85	£21.70
1	Aluminium Flat Bar - Metric Sizes (6082T6) 80 mm x 10 mm - 2000 mm	£22.01	£22.01

Is there a better place to go??

[examorph]

Dean - Thanks for the advice and yeah, that was just for cut aluminium with no holes/profiles, etc.
Damn, almost half the price...that's cheap! Will ask around locally and see if I can find someone decent. Is there anything I should ask for specifically when requesting quotes for this? I see people go with EcoCast from Aluminium Warehouse, I don't know if many locals would do this so would I just ask for Ground Cast Aluminium Machine Plate? Is there any grade or reference I need to mention?

Davek - Thanks for the reference prices.

[Neale]

I bought Ecocast from Aluminium Warehouse but subsequently I've been told about MIC6 tooling plate which is sold by Blackburns - branches around the country. Might be worth checking for a comparison.

[JAZZCNC]

Tooling plate is what you want to ask for. Like Neale says it's often called Mic6.

[examorph]

Cheers Neale & Dean for the advice, will search around for this.
I am guessing its going to be the same case with the box section also (local supplier being cheaper than online) so will search around for this also. To confirm is it just bog standard mild steel box section or is a specific grade recommended?
With a 4mm wall the gantry box section and side plates alone weigh 20kg (no motors, no Z axis, no ball screw, no spindle, etc) will the 6.1Nm Nema 34 @ 70V with AM882 drives previously recommended handle this ok with good enough speeds for both aluminum and some wood work?

[JAZZCNC]

Yes just mild steel boxsection nothing special. Don't worry 20Kg is nothing you'll be ok upto 80-90kg.