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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

#51

Post by fbnlsr »

doctorwho42 wrote: post #26
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

Are you sure? I've been looking at getting myself a sim racing rig made of aluminium extrusion and prices have skyrocketed in the past couple of years.

I'd love to get some links on those cheaper extrusion websites you're talking about.

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

#52

Post by ddulaney »

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

A former employer swore by FramingTech: https://www.framingtech.com/

Their super power was that you could ship them a SolidWorks file with assembly steps marked, then they would bag all of the parts by step (i.e. for step 1 in the build book, use all the parts in bag 1). Also, if you throw money at them you can get it shipped next day, which is a good option to have.

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

#53

Post by maineiac »

Signed back in for the first time in... years... to add that a lot of DIY van / overlander builders are using this stuff! I opted for the cheaper but almost-as-good TNutz.com manufacturer for my build. Slightly different alloy but totally valid for my needs. If you're considering building a van, check out Seven-O-Savage on youtube:

How to build a van with 80/20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqiroMdqZ0Y

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

#54

Post by phasetransition »

alanbernstein wrote: post #40
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.

Kee Klamp for EMT, cool.

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

#56

Post by linsomniac »

convolvatron wrote: post #42
himinlomax wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Add a portable bandsaw to your collection and raw stock is probably ultimately more adaptable

I've done all of my extrusion cuts using my miter saw with just the stock wood blade, I go a bit slow and the cut is basically indistinguishable from the factory cuts. I assume it'd do as well on tube stock, but if I was cutting large diameter solid stock I'd probably go with a non-ferrous blade.

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

#57

Post by jameshart »

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…

Another extremely flexible lighter-weight structural tube fitting standard that’s widely available is the 1.5” tubing used for drum racks. Not sure if there’s a broader standard that the musical instrument industry is building off there.

Was pleasantly surprised recently to find that the same diameter of fittings was used in an adjustable monitor stand, so if you wanted to mount a cowbell above your dual screen mount the fittings are easily combined.

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