Hi All - I have been doing some part sensitivity analysis on the current model. Whats showing up is a relationship between the tool plate stiffness and the gantry stiffness. I call the tool plate the part that carries the machine tool, its usually a flat thick piece of aluminium or steel. If the tool plate is not stiff and bends a bit this distorts the bearings and local area on the gantry and the gantry twists and bends. If the tool plate is over a certain stiffness the load pushes the toolplate directly backward and does not twist the gantry it only bends. Which is ideal as the tool stays vertical. So now I have to design a suitable tool plate that is Uber stiff. Currently I'm looking at a tubular sort of design or a deep U shape.

This process is also called a "form finding" process or exercise. We are finding the best form or shape for the task the part has to do. Peter