I’ve been lurking for a while and pretty sure I got the boss lady talked into a cnc router. Eventually I would love a 4x8 work area but figure I’d start smaller first and if I feel the need to go larger at a later date I can build a bigger beast. She wants to be able to do small signs and wood projects for craft shows and such in and a round our small town and I want it to be able to handle luthier work so I am thinking along the lines of a 2’x3’x7” cutting area. I will be using profiled rails and ball screws. Most likely will build a base grime 3x3 tubing with jack bolts for leveling on the feet. For drive motors I’m leaning towards Nema 34 with 2 of them on the x(long axis).
I’m looking for input and ideas for my gantry plates. I’m not 100% but hoping I’ll have access to at minimum a few Bridgeport knee mills with dro and possibly a cnc mill or 2. I want it built like a tank to avoid vibration and issues with harmonics so I will fill the base with sand and have my gantry built with most likely 1/2” plates and 1/4” skins, both from aluminum. Any help is greatly appreciated