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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

#71

Post by FatActor »

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…

Depends on the job. Cutting unistrut is far more challenging than 80/20, it weighs a lot, and the connectors are expensive because they are engineered to bear significant loads. 80/20 is a little pricier per foot but it is much, much easier to work with for applications that don't need to withstand a nuclear strike.

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

#72

Post by DoingIsLearning »

When I was a teenager I used to improvise prototypes at home with those generic Meccano sets (small prototypes where the stifness of extrusion frames wasn't needed).

Is there any modern equivalent? If I look for Meccano nowadays it seems to have gone the way of Lego, where you only have prescribed construction sets, haven't found generic parts sets.

Is there any modern equivalent of Meccano for such an application?

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

#73

Post by 123pie123 »

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.

I like this stuff - thanks for sharing

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

#75

Post by w4rh4wk5 »

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

We've used Misumi for a small-scale project and the quality / price ratio was quite good. Would order again from them.

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

#76

Post by peteradio »

FatActor wrote: post #71
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…

Depends on the job. Cutting unistrut is far more challenging than 80/20, it weighs a lot, and the connectors are expensive because they are engineered to bear significant loads. 80/20 is a little pricier per foot but it is much, much easier to work with for applications that don't need to withstand a nuclear strike.

Not sure if the throat is large enough but a portable electric bandsaw would be able to chew through the unistrut steel and in the jobs I've used them on they are precise enough.

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

#77

Post by lazide »

peteradio wrote: post #76
FatActor wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on the job. Cutting unistrut is far more challenging than 80/20, it weighs a lot, and the connectors are expensive because they are engineered to bear significant loads. 80/20 is a little pricier per foot but it is much, much easier to work with for applications that don't need to withstand a nuclear strike.

Not sure if the throat is large enough but a portable electric bandsaw would be able to chew through the unistrut steel and in the jobs I've used them on they are precise enough.

An angle grinder with a cutoff wheel similarly has no issues.

It can be a fire/noise/dust hazard, you wouldn’t want to do it in a grassy field or server room, but for any construction site it’s easy peasy.

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

#78

Post by lazide »

Blackthorn wrote: post #50
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 knew about 80/20 but this is the first I've heard of unistrut. Thanks.

FYI, most hardware stores will have a selection in their electrical aisle, along with basic threaded connections for 1/2”, 3/8”, and 1/4” bolts, angle connectors, etc.

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

#79

Post by joshvm »

lvl102 wrote: post #37
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.

Accu are fantastic. They also have European sites and maybe more? Always my goto if we need weird screws and they will also make to order if you need something special.

Edit : I would guess McMaster fills this role in the US, so it's nice to have an alternative here. Also they have a lot of non-standard lengths and things like tiny M2s or even smaller. We used them all the time for machine vision products (cameras often use M2 frame mounts, lenses with itty bitty grub screws).

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

#80

Post by joshvm »

willis936 wrote: post #47
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 coworker of mine told me about Misumi last week. They're pretty amazing and the prices are surprisingly great.

They're pretty common in the 3D print industry. Also check out IGUS, who also do a lot of custom rails/rods. They're probably most well known for their plastic Drylin bearings. The prices are also reasonable for what you can get.

I've been meaning to get some stuff from Makerbeam too, who make 10x10 mm extrusion at a good price (not sure who else makes small width stuff). Oozenest in the UK has a good range.

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