Looks very sturdy, Jim!

This design is not used very often in the router world but rather in the 3d printing world since it needs a very big footprint for the same useful cutting length on the Y axis. But truth to be told, I have a machine that can cut 1200mm on the Y axis and, so far, I never used it. Max I used so far is 600mm. I could have built a machine similar to yours and get away with a smaller footprint.

 

I think fixed gantry machines are underrated in general by hobbyists, and would have been the way I'd gone if I didn't have some fairly specific multi-axis requirements. This looks very promising!

 

I saw this and immediately thought, "I need to make mine bigger."
KRE Mill V3 - Concept

Since our builds are so similar, I should mention a few things that gave me grief.

1. The Y rails and shaft need some kind of protection. I ran mine wet which made things a lot messier a lot quicker. Even using less corrosive fluids, I would avoid flood and strictly use air. I just didn't have a compressor.
2. Make sure you cover up that Y motor and belt assembly for same reasons above.

What spindle are you aiming for?

 

Hmm, I'm building a machine that resembles your Z assembly quite closely. What thickness of the Z plates are normally used on machines like this?
I too use a 1.5 kW spindle.

 

Ok, thanks!
Seems that in Europe alu plates cames in standard thickness of 8 or 10 mm, so I'll have to choose a thickness from that. 10 or 8, hmmm.

 

Yes, going for 10 mm. Thanks!