80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems – Build your Idea • Hacker News Board

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

#31

Post by iancmceachern » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:20 PM UTC

Also check out Misumi. They will cut it to length, tap, drill holes, etc all just by configuring it woth part numbers. They Lso have pre made assemblies, you can get it in black anodized, and the pricing can't be beat, it's an order of magnitude less than other suppliers when you get the customizations.

Also check out Vention, they'll design and build a whole machine for you using the stuff

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

#32

Post by zeroping » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:22 PM UTC

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

You might look into Unistrut or the other compatible steel strut channel.

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

#33

Post by 111111101101 » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:23 PM UTC

leobg wrote: post #25

elteto wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

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

PVC pipes and fittings.

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

#34

Post by iancmceachern » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:24 PM UTC

strken wrote: post #2

I've been looking at aluminium extrusion videos on youtube for the past half-hour trying to work out how the dies have a circular void in the middle. Turns out it's a second die (called a mandrel) that locks into the main die (called a cap), and the hot pressurised aluminium flows around the mandrel then forms back into one piece as it goes through the cap.

The coolest part (pun intended) is how they cool the semi-melted aluminum after extrusion, in long tanks of water, that have no sides, the sides are made from water pressure made from directing water flow.

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

#35

Post by furazoball » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:27 PM UTC

More modern equivalent to 8020 - https://vention.io - really great way to get started developing an idea!

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

#36

Post by phasetransition » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:27 PM UTC

zeroping wrote: post #30

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.

I've used Unistrut and adjacent (flex-craft) more than 80/20. They all have good use cases.

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

#37

Post by lvl102 » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:28 PM UTC

iancmceachern wrote: post #31

Also check out Misumi. They will cut it to length, tap, drill holes, etc all just by configuring it woth part numbers. They Lso have pre made assemblies, you can get it in black anodized, and the pricing can't be beat, it's an order of magnitude less than other suppliers when you get the customizations. Also check out Vention, they'll design and build a whole machine for you using the stuff

Misumi is the only answer if you are building something with precision. Also checkout accu.co.uk.

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

#38

Post by sgt » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:34 PM UTC

I recently used aluminium extrusions to build a window. Built a "perfect" frame, stuffed glazing putty into the spaces, then fit a glass in, which I had cut to size. Needed a DIY job as it was just for my garden house. There's more to a proper window than just the glass and frame.

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

#39

Post by rambambram » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:37 PM UTC

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…

I love the Kee Klamp system (or just 'steigerbuis' as we call it here in NL). I built furniture with it in the past, and also a bicycle caravan (https://www.theredpanther.org).

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

#40

Post by alanbernstein » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 2:39 PM UTC

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…

For lighter duty, there is maker pipe: https://makerpipe.com/. it's nice because the bulk of the system is electrical conduit, which I think is one of the cheapest type of beam/tube available.