Re: Why aren't portal mills more popular?
Originally Posted by
JoanTheSpark
With this design you introduce some overcomplication.
To get the z-axis go up and down straight you need to get the gantry square to the bed and before that you need to get the cariage vor the z-axis square to the gantry.
On top of that you "need" the third rail.
Similarly you put rails on the side of the z-axis instead of behind it.
In the thread in my signature you can see how much simpler it can be.
That design was handed to me by a gentleman who took me under his wing and got me set up with a router that according to him should be able to mill steel even though it is made of aluminium.
And you might be able to build it with just a drill press and a table saw...
Well, except for the sides of your "box" that is.
Sven
http://www.puresven.com/?q=building-cnc-router