5'X18' Table

[turmite]

I have a 5'X9' Digital Tool machine I bought way back in 1991. It has steppers, rack and pinion and uses a drive shaft between the two y ways. This machine also uses Bishop Wisecarver vee ways and wheels. I have never had a day of problems with the rack and pinion nor the Bishop stuff. I routinely machine pistol grip blanks that wrap the frame of semi auto target pistols and some of those grips hold functiong parts to the frame of the gun. Once the program is correct I have never had to worry about it. So with all that said my suggestion is:

Rack and pinion
Bishop/Wisecarver
Steppers or servos
Mach2 for the control
Gecko's or Rutex for drives depending on selection of motors

Mike
ps If you haven't seen Phil's site you really need to go take a look. I am hoping he might adopt me some day!

[DJB282000]

I am also interested in a larger table and it seems like the more I read the more i am pushed to the rack and pinion idea.

Does anyone have any recomendations on the size and pitch of the rack.