[wizard]

OK so how do we define rigid?

That is an interesting question, rigidity is acceptable when the machine can get the job done. That is probably not extremely helpful but in the end you the user needs to decide what sort of quality you want to achieve. Even quality has an individuals definition that might vary with respect to what a third party would call quality.

Now I may be jumping to conclusions here but I suspect that most people want a Machine rigid enough to produce good surface finishes. That would be followed up by a machine that is highly repeatable. In most cases absolute precision comes In last, at least after the first two.
The reason here is that routers by definition are not replacements for milling machines so you can’t really compete with a milling machine precision wise. However that do ant mean surface finish isn’t important. So people aim to make the machines as rigid as possible given the context of a “router”.

[tkms002]

That is an interesting question, rigidity is acceptable when the machine can get the job done. That is probably not extremely helpful but in the end you the user needs to decide what sort of quality you want to achieve. Even quality has an individuals definition that might vary with respect to what a third party would call quality.

Now I may be jumping to conclusions here but I suspect that most people want a Machine rigid enough to produce good surface finishes. That would be followed up by a machine that is highly repeatable. In most cases absolute precision comes In last, at least after the first two.
The reason here is that routers by definition are not replacements for milling machines so you can’t really compete with a milling machine precision wise. However that do ant mean surface finish isn’t important. So people aim to make the machines as rigid as possible given the context of a “router”.

OK Here is what I hope to do with it. I want to make non-ferrous sheet metal inlays( Aluminum, copper, brass) in wood(table tops, bench backs, etc). I don't need speed(within reason) but I do need the inlays to fit "perfectly" in the recess I cut.
That being said, how big of a gantry beam will "get er dun"?
Thanks