Table vs. Knee mill CNC

[MrRage]

CNC Router tables look really cool but I wanted to ask you guys how do they compare to knee CNC milling machines? Are there any limitations by design that make the knee class of milling machines better?

From what I can see right now, it looks like the desktop and knee class milling machines compromise table space compared to the router table, but you might be able to do more efficient 45% and greater degree cuts on the knee mill.

If medium is a factor I want to work with steel.

[damae]

The main difference is that a router is usually designed to cut large, flat pieces, usually wood or aluminum. While knee mills are intended for taking heavy cuts in steel (think engine blocks).

Knee mills usually have a long X axis and a very very short Y axis. Routers have large x-y areas and short Z travels (3-6" typically). Knee mills are typically heavy cast-iron monsters while routers are usually lighter, built with square tubing.

Of course, it's possible to build a heavy duty gantry style mill that is a cast iron beast, and it's been done before. But the kind of router most people here are building is the lighter, more agile, wood and aluminum cutting designs.