Wanted to post a brief update on progress. After some of the feedback I got I felt it was important to lug around as accurate of weight as possible to the system I am trying to build so I took the time to make a couple real simple brackets to do 2 things: 1) hold the camera and provide mounting holes for the PNP head and 2) mount to a chunk of extrusion to act as the mounting point for the new brackets.

So, without modification the brackets I have been using on the slides are now able to hold the head/camera secure and snug, slick. I'll be testing with a full load so there are no surprises when I decide which rails are the best for my application. I realize that the head is too low right now, the final machine will be on legs that are long enough to give the proper drop. Right now I am only worried about getting some data back from the rails/slides I have on hand. Getting closer everyday.

NOTE: As this is my first go at PNP and never having seen detailed head plans before I simply bought a head used on other machines so I could see how they work. Now that I have seen how they work I think I could design my own and likely will at some point. For now I'll use this one http://www.robotdigg.com/product/559/Headset+for+PNP+Machine

I was asked how heavy my Z head is. While switching rails tonight I weighed it fully loaded and it is 1.7lbs (or 27 oz)