Clamping solutions for 8020

[ilya]

What are you guys using for clamping the parts to the 8020 extrusions?
I saw some clamping kits on eBay that include studs and T-nuts, but I think they are all bigger and won't fit 8020 stuff.
Any ideas except dropping in some T-nuts or T-bolts?

[margni74]

You can make your own joining/mounting plates out of aluminum plate. I would at least grab the t nuts that slide into the extrusion slot from 8020 and use those in order to make life easier. Easiest thing to do would be to order a couple of joining plates from 8020 and use them as drilling templates for whatever you need to fabricate for mounting to the 8020. That is what i did for my machine and it seemed to work well so far

Another idea is to use steel square tubing to mount things like motors, especially if they need to be geared in some fashion, see left of this pic:



You can then order up 1/4-20 or 5/16-18 socket head screws from a place like enco and save $$ rather than paying through the nose for 25 screws.

[ilya]

margni74,
I see what you mean. Although what I was looking for is some clamping kits for holding while machining parts. I'm curious if there are any ready available clamping kits (like for ex. for bridgeport mills) that will suite the 8020 extrusions.

[laldrich10]

You can order weld nuts from Mcmasters for way cheaper.

[margni74]

margni74,
I see what you mean. Although what I was looking for is some clamping kits for holding while machining parts. I'm curious if there are any ready available clamping kits (like for ex. for bridgeport mills) that will suite the 8020 extrusions.

ahh i see. in that case im have the same question, I currently do not have any way to hold parts down. ill have to look at the 8020 site.