I am currently designing a new machine 2 really and well I am pretty sure I want to go with belt drives instead of screws and racks but I have a few questions. First where can I get the belt and what kind of belt do I need ( I have looked at sdp-si but not sure what to use I saw a cnc with belts that was much smaller than my designs run rapids in the 1200ipm belt drives it had steel lined belts like a radial tire)I want to fix the belt to the gantry and have motor on one end of axis and idler on the other end. Second question I am designing 2 machines first one is roughlly Y3'-4' and X4' second machine is Y4' and X8' or Y5' and X10' numbers are cutting area will belt drives with large steppers or servos work on this size machine? I am looking at rapids in the 600ipm and higher ( want to be in the 1000'+ range).
Thanks
Bearwen