Originally Posted by
Apples
....I will get the 3 or 4 ft milled, but after that I'd have to stop slide the steel up and start again. When I restart will the cut be spot on etc?....
It depends entirely on you.
You want to mill 6 feet on a machine with 4 feet of travel; you machine the 4 feet, then reposition the part.
Because you need a total of 6 feet and already have done 4 feet you have 2 feet of the previously machined surfaces to use for aligning the part so that the remaining 2 feet is true to the first 4 feet. You will need to rig up dial gauges on big supports so you can dial off your previously machined surfaces to get the part aligned for the final 2 feet.
I know it can be done, becausde I did it; machining about 5 feet on a mill with 3 feet of travel. And getting a letter of commendation in my personnel file because I did it.
An open mind is a virtue...so long as all the common sense has not leaked out.