Rookie Question...3 axis vs 4 axis controller

I am considering building my first CNC machine and have seen several designs that use 2 motors on the X Axis. I would like to use this design approach. My question is are these two motors generally wired in parallel using a 3 axis controller, or is a 4 axis controller used and it treated as a fourth axis and programmed the same as the third axis?

Use a 4 axis drive, and let the control software slave the second X motor to the first. Mach3 has this capability.

Gerry,

Thank you for the information, I will go the 4 axis route.

Thanks again

Kevin

I have just built a gantry style machine, I run the "y' axis with 2 motors. You slave the "A" axis motor off the "Y" .This is done in the Mach3 config settings.

enjoy
Burt