The 135 Miller will work fine up to 3/8" max if you preheat the steel or make a root pass then clean (if using flux core) then multiple passes to cover. Preheating with a torch, then welding will work to. I have done both and prefer the torch method. A larger welder would be better but it is about the technique not the size of the welder that will make your weld the best. Best to practice with scrap pieces first no matter what avenue you travel.

I ended up doing my entire build with an old stick welder. My welds aren't the prettiest, but having attempted several destructive tests on them (not on the Mechmate, on test pieces), I'm pretty sure that I won't have a weld fail any time soon. But like Pete said: Practice first.

I stick welded everything except my Y-car with a Lincoln AC welder.
I used a 140 Mig welder with gas on the Y car.

I happen to use machines in that range and higher.

The extra $100,000 buys you quite a few things.

- A 5000+lb heavy welded steel, precion machined frame.

- ~$10,000 worth of linear bearings

- ~$10,000+ worh of big precision ballscrews (often with rotating nuts) or helical rack and pinion

- Big AC servos and drives that will typically cost ~$3000-$5000 per axis.

- A $10,000 ATC spindle and possibly a tool change system that costs another $10K+

- more sensors and electronics than you can imagine, to both prevent possible machine damage and operator injury (or worse)

- A Custom control designed specifically for that machine. This is a big one, as it can add a lot of functionality and make the machine much more flexible and powerful.

- Not just a salesman in the suit (who typically know very little about the operation of the machine), but a readily available tech support staff, and a fully stocked parts dept.

- A huge leap in performance


For certain applications, that extra $100,000 can pay for itself in a year or less.

Gerald said something similar here

We have had some here that started with a Mechmate until they upgraded when business requirements dictated.

I've been pouring over the table section in the plans and I'm still confused as to where the table size is defined. From what I can deduce, if I substitute my desired x and y (the same size of largest sheet stock I will be routing) for the support board, that will dictate the size of my table. Is that correct? I'm specifically looking at 10 10 123 D. Is that what drives the dimensions of the table? Or do I just need to study more?

Here you go... Post #5, section #3

http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showt...ght=band+rails

Well... mechmate didn't work out for me. 7 years later... I ended up buying a kit and built it in about a month. But... finally cutting... thanks to you all who put up with my newb questions back in the day. AND power to you mech mate guys... there was a point where the plans all made sense but the realities of my life never lent me the time I needed to dedicate to it... now to finish that dust collection set up... :D