8020 fastener question
 

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.

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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 . But obviously the versaframe c channel isn't wide/big enough to fit the 8020. So do you know of any such bracket?

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

Would a heel-and-toe joint work?

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

can you give me a link to one?

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

Can you open the attached pdf in my last post?

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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?

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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.

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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?

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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?

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

yup

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

You can get about anything from McmasterCarr

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-al...nnels/=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.

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

Thank you so much sir.

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

We procured this locally at Bayou Steel, but it also seems to be available at OnlineMetals.com.

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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.

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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?

Re: 8020 fastener question
 

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.