80-20 Quick Frame Concept

[Phyrxes]

Originally Posted by Nathan Streeter

Am I reading this right... looks like the Esto fittings for 1" box are usually over $2 for each fitting! Is that really not for a pack of a 5+ fittings or something?

Coming from a team that's used a lot of 80-20 in recent years, this looks like a great way to help transition to more 1/16" wall 1" box... but fittings that expensive are hard to afford transitioning to!

Anyone have more first-hand experience with these? If so, could you share some of your experience, answering some of these questions:

- How strong are they?
- What box do you use with them? Looks like they're intended for 1/16
wall box...
- How well do they press in? Too tight? Too loose?
- Do you use any screw or adhesive to help retain them?
- Can you typically dis-assemble a frame using these fittings and then successfully re-use the fittings elsewhere?

Yes that really is the cost for a single connector, if you buy the 1/16th box from esto they will anodize it black or clear for you and if you want to order over a minimum amount of linear feet they will powder coat it. Keep in mind this stuff is designed for trade shows and enclosures. Their box has ridges on the inside to help retain connectors, we buy from another vendor since we crossdrill and pin the connectors at minimum, most joints are gusseted.

You can assemble and disassemble fairly easily with a rubber mallet and other hand tools. We tend to reuse fittings unless they were significantly altered. We generally use this material for super structure and mechanisms. In the case of a few of our robots the prototype using these connectors ended up on the competition robot in some form or another.

You will find that you use certain connectors way more than others, if you have any more questions PM me and I can follow up with you.