Tetra-Motion – Every which way but loose

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White Paper

229-47 CNC Router Configurations

Author: Peter Schwarzel

Issue 1: 08-01-2020 Original

Introduction
I have recently been asked about gantry router configurations and what are the benefits
and weaknesses of each. So I thought I'd put togther some info on this.

The main types of 3 axis routers are: column gantry, double bridge or moving gantry; High
rail gantry; Bridgeport and the moving table types

Moving Gantry
The moving gantry design is very common. Its advantages are large working area to
footprint ratio and ease of loading and unloading.

A small moving gantry router

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Some are so big that the operator has a control box that moves with the gantry so the
operator can see what the tool is doing.

The moving gantries weakness is the columns. They are tall and cantilvered and
cantilevers can vibrate. So they need to be very stiff to prevent the gantry wobbling or
"racking" as it moves. Racking is the term used to describe one side progressing before
the other side catches up as it moves on its guides.

Another negative is that the rails, bearings and drive elements are at dust and swarf level
so they need to be protected.

High Rail Design

The high rail removes the column from the design, so the gantry is not supported on a
column or cantilever, therefore vibration is minimised. This also means the gantry is
shorter from the Z axis to the gantry bearings which means it can be stiffer.

High rail designs are often used when large objects need to be worked on. eg boats,
planes, furniture and such. It also means the rails are well above the dirt zone so materials
such as granite and ice can be cut with the bearings well out of the way.

There are two main reasons Tetra Motion Designs have tended to the high rail design 1)
To make the machine stiffer by removing the column and 2) To control dust better and get
the motion systems out of the dust area.

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 Large scale high rail design. Note there are no columns in this design. The gantry sits
directly on the rails.

Small timber bench type high rail design

Bridgeport style routers or vertical machining centres are used by the kitchen industry to
allow long panels to be front loaded into the machine. Since these machines only do flat
panel work the Z axis can be short and the other elements can be very large and stiff.
Many of these machines do not have a "bed" as such but an arrangment of sliding
supports to enable fast set-up of clamps.

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 Not quite a true Bridgeport but a front loader. Some call it a single column gantry.

Moving Table Configuration

The prior styles had a fixed table to make the machine as compact as possible. If the
machine is small and high rigidity is needed then a moving table is useful if the object is
not too heavy. But the footprint is over twice the length of the table so these machines
require a big space to operate. The gantry is firmly fixed to the earth and the tool loadings
are always within the bearing spacings making it stable and accurate. Moving tables are
often controlled with one drive removing the requirement to syncronise two drives. Very
small cnc kits use a moving table to remove the cost of the second drive on one axis.

Very large mills use a moving table for the extra rigidity the fixed and huge gantry can be.
Since the gantry does not move it can be very heavy and stable as the drive(s) do not
have to move it.

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Tiny router kit with moving table.

Very large mill with moving table.

Any questions please ask.

Regards

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