8020 fastener question

[dirtbikerxz]

Best bracket or gusset for attaching two 1x1 60 inch pieces of 8020 together? Needs to be really strong and sturdy, and i need one of the 4 sides to be bracket/gusset free.

[Sperkowsky]

Best bracket or gusset for attaching two 1x1 60 inch pieces of 8020 together? Needs to be really strong and sturdy, and i need one of the 4 sides to be bracket/gusset free.
Well how are u attaching it. You are going to have to use 90 degree or t gussets and corner supports.

[dirtbikerxz]

Well how are u attaching it. You are going to have to use 90 degree or t gussets and corner supports.

What i was hoping for was a c channel type of bracket that can attaches to the two pieces of 80 20 on three sides. Something like the vex versaframe c channel link (http://www.vexrobotics.com/media/catalog/product/cache/11/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/2/1/217-4107.jpg) . But obviously the versaframe c channel isn't wide/big enough to fit the 8020. So do you know of any such bracket?

[Richard Wallace]

Are you making a ten foot span? Will it be oriented horizontally or vertically?

[dirtbikerxz]

both. im going to have some pieces vertical. and some pieces horizontal. but yes each piece is a 10 foot span.

[Richard Wallace]

Would a heel-and-toe joint work?

[dirtbikerxz]

Would a heel-and-toe joint work?

can you give me a link to one?

[Richard Wallace]

can you give me a link to one?Can you open the attached pdf in my last post?

[dirtbikerxz]

Can you open the attached pdf in my last post?

I think i kind of understand, but I'm having a little trouble visualizing. Will this method put a gusset (of any kind) on all 4 sides?

[GeeTwo]

Start with a hanger bolt threaded into both pieces. Then use mending plates on each side that you can fit it. A piece of 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 1/8" c-channel would make a great gusset for this. We used this size c-channel on our 2013 robot, and I believe it's the size of the old c-channel kit chassis.

[Richard Wallace]

I think i kind of understand, but I'm having a little trouble visualizing. Will this method put a gusset (of any kind) on all 4 sides?The bottom side in my sketch (opposite the "toe") will be free of gussets. I am assuming you need to put something in that slot, correct?

[dirtbikerxz]

Start with a hanger bolt threaded into both pieces. Then use mending plates on each side that you can fit it. A piece of 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 1/8" c-channel would make a great gusset for this. We used this size c-channel on our 2013 robot, and I believe it's the size of the old c-channel kit chassis.

SOunds perfect. Where can i find a c channel that size? andy mark and vex dont have those sizes... do you know of another website?

[dirtbikerxz]

The bottom side in my sketch (opposite the "toe") will be free of gussets. I am assuming you need to put something in that slot, correct?

yup

[Fusion_Clint]

You can get about anything from McmasterCarr

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-aluminum-u-channels/=114hx84

With their normal shipping I get things in 2 days over here in Gulfport. Order it today and you will have it by Wednesday at the latest.

[dirtbikerxz]

You can get about anything from McmasterCarr

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-aluminum-u-channels/=114hx84

With their normal shipping I get things in 2 days over here in Gulfport. Order it today and you will have it by Wednesday at the latest.

Thank you so much sir.

[GeeTwo]

SOunds perfect. Where can i find a c channel that size? andy mark and vex dont have those sizes... do you know of another website?

We procured this locally at Bayou Steel, but it also seems to be available at OnlineMetals.com (http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=7006&step=4&showunits=inches&id=297&top_cat=60).

[DaveL]

80/20 has a nice catalog. You might find a connector specifically made to do what you want. Just a note; they have American and metric sizes which can cause problem if you try to mix.

Side note: previous mentor bought metric bolts. 5 years later, I'm still finding metric bolts and tossing them out to prevent them from destroying our American sized nuts.
Dave

[dirtbikerxz]

80/20 has a nice catalog. You might find a connector specifically made to do what you want. Just a note; they have American and metric sizes which can cause problem if you try to mix.

Side note: previous mentor bought metric bolts. 5 years later, I'm still finding metric bolts and tossing them out to prevent them from destroying our American sized nuts.
Dave

i know 8020 has those brackets, but for what we are doing, it would be over 200 dollars in brackets, or just 40 dollars in the c-channel gusset. We don't have much money.

[dirtbikerxz]

We procured this locally at Bayou Steel, but it also seems to be available at OnlineMetals.com (http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=7006&step=4&showunits=inches&id=297&top_cat=60).

Stroke of good luck, turns out we do have c-channel of that size in the workshop.
Question is, do you know how long each strip of channel should be to join the two 5 foot 1x1 8020, and keep it stable. It won't have too much stress on it, we are basically using this as our pit frame. I was imagining that we use 6 inches of channel per joint. 3 inches on each strip of 8020, is that enough?

[GeeTwo]

Stroke of good luck, turns out we do have c-channel of that size in the workshop.
Question is, do you know how long each strip of channel should be to join the two 5 foot 1x1 8020, and keep it stable. It won't have too much stress on it, we are basically using this as our pit frame. I was imagining that we use 6 inches of channel per joint. 3 inches on each strip of 8020, is that enough?

That sounds like a good place to start. Try building one and testing it with loads and collisions about two or three times what you expect and see how it holds up. Threading a dowel screw or hanger bolt into the end of both pieces before putting on the c-channel would also help.