It's well worth the money, if your looking for a machine tomorrow this is them one to get. I will try to measure the defection of the gantry, being that the rods are not un-supported, but over 24" I doubt their will be any deflection for normal plunging into wood. I dare say that this machine is probably ridge enough to machine alum. The machine I got did not come with a motor mount for the router, but I will make one. I plan on using a Porta Cable trim router. I might even strap a laser to it
