Good to hear someone else is trying a similar thing out.
Two years on- I have had zero bearing issues, table runs as smooth as you could ask for. The extra weight doesn't hurt one bit.
My only further mod was to use a few more bolts to hold the Starboard plenum to the aluminum deck. When cutting several hours with the vacuum under the table, the heat would cause the plastic to bow slightly between the original bolts.
I can still remove the plenum in a matter of minutes, plug the two vacuum holes, and get setup for clamp down cuts using the t track aluminum top.
The biggest advantage is having the ability to machine sheet goods and be accurate to 5 thousands in depth.
Since I did this mod in summer of 2014 I bet I use the machine 5 times if not more, as much. Very much more of a versatile all around cutting machine.
