open table vs closed-table gantry setups

[nicanor76]

Hey, new guy here. Been going through the past threads to get more info since I want to make a CNC for my summer project. I'm an Industrial Design student, so I have a budget (willing to spend about $750 +/- for the hardware) for a tabletop with a cutting area roughly 2'x2'x6", give or take, nothing too huge.

I like the open table/ovearhead gantry setups, but haven't heard too much feedback on them, what are the drawbacks on them compared to the more commonly used moving table setup? I mainly am leaning towards the open tops as a potential to (with plan changes) have the capabilities to clamp it (securely) onto something that's already built (like a side of a furniture).

Thanks
Nick

[nicanor76]

here's the two styles I was talking about in case I'm using the wrong terms

open table


vs the closed table


I know most people have closed table, is it because it's cheaper and easier to build? What disadvantages does the open gantry have?

[ger21]

They are usually called moving gantry or moving table. Moving table takes up more space, but is usually easier to build, and easier to make more rigid. But the space savings of the moving gantry make it by far the most popular.