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80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

8020.net

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Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#21

Post by kris_wayton »

pitched wrote: post #4

The reason I haven’t used these for a few past projects is that they can’t quite hold up under human-scale weights (1). Would be awesome to have something like this but steel! 1: https://us.misumi-ec.com/pdf/fa/2010/p2433.pdf

The chart doesn't seem to account for the profiles that only have a slot on 1 or 2 sides versus all 4. I would guess those are quite a bit stronger. Like this one: https://8020.net/media/catalog/product/cache/9208ae76a38c408...

Edit: Their calculator shows the same exact deflection with the same weight, so maybe not, though that seems odd to me. https://8020.net/deflection-calculator

Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#22

Post by himinlomax »

chiefalchemist wrote: post #9

Intriguing. But the concept is new to me, and I found the site not very n00b friendly. My initial questions are: Can I use it to build a greenhouse? And how much would that cost? I couldn't find anything comparable, and left.

Simple square aluminium tubing would be cheaper and with similar characteristics for this application. You can assemble them quite easily with a drill and bolts/nuts/washers of the appropriate size.

The advantage these profiles have is that they are more precise, are more easily adjusted and allow for a wide range of connections.

Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#23

Post by sgc »

chiefalchemist wrote: post #12
tinco wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could but it would be extremely expensive, and not as strong as a steel construction. If you are building a robot that tends to the plants in your greenhouse however, this is a great material to both build the skeleton of the robot, and the structure that holds your plants. It allows you to quickly prototype in a very precise and lightweight manner.

Thanks. Still intriguing, but now for other ideas / projects. I wish the site was more transparent on their sweet spot.

The sweet spot for extrusions is usually convenient precision. If you don't need relatively high precision and accuracy, they are often overkill.

Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#24

Post by phasetransition »

If 80/20 is new to you, then you might also be unfamiliar with its steel channeled cousin, Unistrut. https://www.unistrut.us/

Unistrut is used extensively in the US to build support structures for electrical switchgear and process equipment. You can get grades suitable for outdoor and corrosives exposure.

Unistrut is the Kleenex term, there are a number of work-alike / fit-alike systems.

Then for round tube, there is Kee Klamp: https://keesystems.com/

Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#25

Post by leobg »

elteto wrote: post #17
rjohann wrote: post #14

I call it lego for the industry. Many 3d printer frames are made of it. Sim racing rigs are made of it.

I call it legos for adults, with the price tag and everything ;)

So what would be a LEGO for adults without the price tag?

Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#26

Post by doctorwho42 »

Quequau wrote: post #15

I wonder how much outfits like Send Cut Send are eating into 80/20's market share. I know I've used laser cut sheet stock for a few projects that probably would have used aluminium extrusions in the past.

Probably not as much as Chinese extrusions have. You can find some pretty cheap and compatible aluminum extrusion on the internet these days. Ebay used to be the best, but now there are dedicated websites and everything. Extrusions have never been cheaper

Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#27

Post by Dries007 »

sschueller wrote: post #19

These types of aluminum extrusions have been used for many years (at least in Europe) in many industries to build all kinds temporary to more permanent structures [1]. Also the reason they ended up in 3d printers as they have been used in other CNC type setups. Oddly enough the Wikipedia article is very thing and not even available in English [2] [1] https://www.kanya.com/fileadmin/_processed_/3/1/csm_kanya-ag... [2]…

I think this is the equivalent page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-slot_structural_framing

Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#28

Post by ama5322 »

Quequau wrote: post #15

I wonder how much outfits like Send Cut Send are eating into 80/20's market share. I know I've used laser cut sheet stock for a few projects that probably would have used aluminium extrusions in the past.

I doubt much if we think decades. Sheet stock has always been used in conjunction to modular systems such as these, via manual or CNC machining (slots and holes are trivial to do). The advantage of a modular system such as these is the ability to build a scaffold with only straight cuts and a few off-the-shelf connectors.

In most cases you need a sheet metal press to form a scaffold out of _just_ sheet metal.

For anything structural (ie: when thickness matters), the price of custom-cut sheet stock is not that competitive anymore.

The price of machine-cut metal sheet has dropped quite a bit the last years though. I think it's filling a new niche, not really replacing the space of modular extrusions.

Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#29

Post by johnwalkr »

pitched wrote: post #4

The reason I haven’t used these for a few past projects is that they can’t quite hold up under human-scale weights (1). Would be awesome to have something like this but steel! 1: https://us.misumi-ec.com/pdf/fa/2010/p2433.pdf

That’s only really useful to compare sizes. Normally you just build your structure with as many supports etc as needed. And 30 degree, 60 degree, 90 degree etc connecting pieces are standard to add support struts.

Re: 80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea

#30

Post by zeroping »

phasetransition wrote: post #24

If 80/20 is new to you, then you might also be unfamiliar with its steel channeled cousin, Unistrut. https://www.unistrut.us/ Unistrut is used extensively in the US to build support structures for electrical switchgear and process equipment. You can get grades suitable for outdoor and corrosives exposure. Unistrut is the Kleenex term, there are a number of work-alike / fit-alike systems. Then for round tube, there is…

Good to keep alternatives in mind. I have found unistrut significantly cheaper when you want to build larger scale or stronger stuff. It's not super versatile, but can still do a lot.
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