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IndustryArena Forum > WoodWorking Machines > DIY CNC Router Table Machines > Is there a standard size for work-holding fixture hardware?
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    608

    Is there a standard size for work-holding fixture hardware?

    Good morning everyone,

    I am looking to add some alum. T-slots to my CNC machine's table along the edges to help me hold down some stock.
    I have a few options ranging from offerings from 80/20 extrusion (which are not ideal since they have a bit of camber along the "flat sides") or mitusmi and Minitec to woodpeckers alum pro rails.

    With all these different offerings and in order to make a good decision I would like to ask the community if there is a standard size more clamps and work-holding hardware comes in? Are there more 1/4" fastener types? 5/8? , M6 M8?
    This information would allow me to make an educated assessment of what I want to do.

    Thank you in advance.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    5516
    Quote Originally Posted by FoxCNC1 View Post
    Good morning everyone,

    I am looking to add some alum. T-slots to my CNC machine's table along the edges to help me hold down some stock.
    I have a few options ranging from offerings from 80/20 extrusion (which are not ideal since they have a bit of camber along the "flat sides") or mitusmi and Minitec to woodpeckers alum pro rails.

    With all these different offerings and in order to make a good decision I would like to ask the community if there is a standard size more clamps and work-holding hardware comes in? Are there more 1/4" fastener types? 5/8? , M6 M8?
    This information would allow me to make an educated assessment of what I want to do.

    Thank you in advance.
    The t nut size is usually dependent on the size (series) extrusion you're using. i.e. 45mm series usually has 10mm t slots.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    608

    Re: Is there a standard size for work-holding fixture hardware?

    thanks for your response and while I realize that, my question was more along the lines of what size Tnut do most fixtures use.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    3920

    Re: Is there a standard size for work-holding fixture hardware?

    Quote Originally Posted by FoxCNC1 View Post
    thanks for your response and while I realize that, my question was more along the lines of what size Tnut do most fixtures use.
    There is no standards use but which you make ( to paraphrase a movie). Some companies promote T slots sized for toliet bolts but honeslty that can be limiting. If you go to 80/20 you can find Nuts, bolts, t-bolts and other goodies in a variety of sizes. My suggestion would be to use the largest bolt size possible for the hardware you are using. Keep in mind thought that large isn't always optimal.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    520

    Re: Is there a standard size for work-holding fixture hardware?

    I've mounted some t-slots in my table. They work great. I milled up a few pieces of alum bar to fit in the slot, drilled and tapped for a 10-32 (if I remember correctly) and cut some heads of the bolts and lock-tited the bolt shaft in the tapped hole.

    Anyway here is a link to my build where these can be seen in a few pictures. I thought I had a post on just these, but I couldn't find it. I'll have to add that.

    http://www.cnczone.com/forums/cnc-wo...cnc-forum.html

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    5516
    Quote Originally Posted by FoxCNC1 View Post
    thanks for your response and while I realize that, my question was more along the lines of what size Tnut do most fixtures use.
    There is no standard. You use what fits the machine.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    608

    Re: Is there a standard size for work-holding fixture hardware?

    Thank you guys. I am going to use some Tslot extrusion that takes a 10mm t nut

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    5516

    Re: Is there a standard size for work-holding fixture hardware?

    Quote Originally Posted by FoxCNC1 View Post
    Thank you guys. I am going to use some Tslot extrusion that takes a 10mm t nut
    If you try to use 10mm t-nuts designed for mill tables, I'd check the specs first to ensure they fit your extrusion. Otherwise it's probably easier to buy the t-nuts your extrusion manufacturer recommends and bolt your fixtures down with that. Some manufacturers make t-nuts for metric slots with SAE threads (I think Bosch does) so you can get stuff from Woodpeckers which uses 1/4"-20 threads....

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