On 1/1/2021 12:06 AM, John Doe wrote:
Can a CNC be turned towards the front/user so that it is on its side and the
chips fall away from the cutting area?



Yes, but it would be better to buy (or build) a machine with that layout
in mind rather than to flip a gantry mill (cnc router) on its side. I
have seen a couple machines designed and built that way. They worked
fairly well, but they still used flood coolant to make sure the mill was
not recutting piles of chips on shelves and in deep pockets. A decent
fl0od coolant keeps the cutter and the work piece cool nearly
eliminating chip welding, and the blast of coolant keeps the majority of
the chips out of the cut to prevent recutting and tool or work piece
damage on excessive unpredictable loads. Its particularly important
when using smaller cutters for fine detail work, but can be an issue
even with mid size cutters. Your mileage may vary.

The reason to consider a machine built for a vertical bed or table is
that the machine itself will be designed to hold its shape by gravity as
well as by its construction. The X (or Y) will be signed for lifting
loads rather than sliding loads, and the Z will be designed to support
the spindle with little or no sag in its horizontal configuration.
Flipping a machine on its side does none of that. Your mileage may vary.

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