High rigidity moving column horizontal machine tool

A rigid design for a machine tool having perpendicular X, Y, and Z axes, comprising:

• fixed X-axis frame members;
• a vertical fixed X-axis wall supported by the X-axis frame members for supporting a workpiece on a vertical face of the vertical fixed X-axis wall for movement of the workpiece in the X-axis direction;
• fixed Z-axis vertical frame members;
• fixed upper and lower Z-axis frame members rigidly attached to the fixed X-axis frame members and the fixed Z-axis vertical frame members, whereby the fixed X-axis frame members, the fixed Z-axis vertical frame members, and the upper and lower Z-axis frame members comprise a closed force loop design;
• a movable Y-axis column extending from the upper Z-axis frame member to the lower Z-axis frame member and movable in the Z-axis direction, which Z-axis direction is perpendicular to the vertical face;
• a headstock mounted on the Y-axis column and having a longitudinal direction extending in the Z-axis direction;
• and,
• at least one drive motor for moving the Y-axis column in the Z-axis direction, whereby the headstock may be advanced and retracted along the Z-axis direction relative to the workpiece by moving the Y-axis column relative to the workpiece.