T Slot Material

[gunlocators]

looking for suggestions and source for tslot material. I am in a process of building a 2'x4' gantry style cnc and would like the 4'x2' bed to be of tslot material

[tauntdesigns]

I've been looking at the 80/20 alum extrusions... in the hopes that I'll be building a router of my own.

Jack

[Cartierusm]

This has been asked many times. Basically what it comes down to, I think, is...
1. Make your own.
2. Use 80/20 extrusion to create a bed (very difficult to create a level accurate surface).
3. Contact a company that makes CNC routers, i.e. Techno Isel, and buy it from them (very expensive).
4. Find a cheap reliable source and share it with all of us.

[yngndrw]

From the UK:
http://www.worldofcnc.com/products.a...gory=Bed+Plate

I don't know if that will help you, seems as you aren't from the UK. Thought I might as well post it though.

[jcc3inc]

Sir,

Here is a picture of the slots I made in an MDF table top. Be aware of the weakness of MDF, as your load should be directly over the tee nuts so as not to stress the table and break out a chunk!!

Regards,
Jack C.

[xtremein]

jcc3inc,

what did you use to cut the tslot? Sorry if this is a stupid question, still new to CNC's.

Thanks,
Micheal

[LazyMan]

Bosch Rexroth

http://www13.boschrexroth-us.com/Fra...t.aspx?units=1

The offer a wide range of metric tslot systems but also supply imerial. You can order specific lenghts.

This is what I used for my machine. It aint cheap but its good stuff. I very much perfer it to 8020 because there extrusions dont have that "clamping lock" system which makes it more difficult to install smaller linear slides accurately.

[tauntdesigns]

Originally Posted by xtremein jcc3inc, what did you use to cut the tslot? Sorry if this is a stupid question, still new to CNC's. Thanks, Micheal

Howdy Micheal,

He might have use something like this:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PARTPG=INLMK3

or different sizes:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INLMK3?PMK0NO=931478

Cheers,
Jack

[GeeksGoneBad]

I bought a bunch of t-slot extrusion from this ebay seller

and you can see my use of it here

[jcc3inc]

Extremin,

I used a conventional slotting bit and followed with a cove molding bit that I ground off the curved portion. It looks like a "tee" shape now. I came in from the end of the MDF and ran the length of the pre-made slot.

I'm sure that there are some metal insert type that you could buy and install in a slot you cut.

Maybe another possibility in using metal tee slots would be to fasten the tee slots to your table frame, spaced every 6" for example. Then attach your wood/MDF table sections between the tee slots already in place.

Regards,
Jack C.

[xtremein]

Thanks for the information and suggestions. I will look into which would be best for my needs. Not sure about the metal t slots. The CNC will hold a full 4' x 8' sheet with a 4' x 6' cutting area. But, at the same time the MDF on there now might not be thick enough to cut the slots and retain strength.

Thanks,
Micheal

[jcc3inc]

Sir,

Here is another possibility; you could use these (1/4-20 threads) pushed in from the back of your table, and spaced as close as needed, if that is possible. It is an easy solution for bolting to plywood or MDF.

Regards,
Jack C.