[MonoNeuron]

Hi Pete. I didn't mean way below the table in the path of the sparks etc but just below the table height on the side of the machine and inside "C" section so it is away from sparks. I am in favor of a relatively flat machine table top for those awkward jobs that need to be cut once in a while and parts of it need to hang over the edge of the table. Each design has its limitations, I know, but I would just prefer it that way myself.
Hi Monkol,
The timing belt only transfers the precision of the motor to the axis. It doesn't have much to do with tooth count or width etc as the precision comes from your encoder or your 1/10th step stepper motor. If you have a long table with a fair amount of weight to move then you obviously need a wide belt with strong teeth but if you need to move a very small weight around a very small surface with small pulleys, then you need a thin belt with more teeth per inch so they have more teeth in contact with a small dia pulley.
I have had no problems at all with stepper motor drives and they are very easy to set up. A lot of other people swear by servos but they are a bit more expensive and if you use brushed ones then you will be up for maintenance. Not much maintenance with a stepper system and it is much cheaper and just as accurate depending on how you gear your motors.
Hope to be of some help.
Rich.