T Slot Aluminum Sizes

4/5/2022

T-Slot Aluminum, T-Bolts and Fastening Nuts. Framing Tech is proud to offer a full line of aluminum framing fasteners, from T-slot aluminum and T-slot extrusion pieces to economy nuts and specialty fasteners.

T Slot Aluminum Desk
T Slot Aluminum Sizes Chart
T Slot Aluminum Sizes Extrusion
T Slot Aluminum Sizes Dimensions

Metric T Slot Aluminum Profiles

Connectors

Fasteners

Accessories

T-Slotted Aluminum Extrusion. Our T-Slotted Aluminum Extrusion Lines utilize corrosion resistant 6063-T6 Aluminum Alloy with a clear anodize finish. Not only do our T-Slotted Aluminum Profiles come in a variety of standard lengths and sizes, we also offer cut to length services to better meet your projects specific needs. A T-slot is what we call the channel that runs the length of our aluminum extrusion shapes. The T-slots are designed to a specific depth and width depending on the material. The T-slot is used mostly for mounting and fastening a wide variety of accessories and panels to the aluminum extrusion. Throat dimensions are basic. When slots are intended to be used for holding only, tolerances can be 0.0 + 0.010 inch or H12 Metric (ISO/R286); when intended for location, tolerance can be 0.0 + 0.001 inch or H8 Metric. Corners of T-Slots may be square or may be rounded or broken to the indicated maximum dimensions at the manufacturer's. The two most common t-slot sizes are 1/4' and 5/16'. These two sizes will cover most every woodworking application. In fact, I use 1/4' most of the time because it's cheaper and plenty strong for what I use it for. These t nuts and t bolts make it easy to attach clamps and other accessories to the t-track.

Frame to Floor

Panel Accessories

CarboSix Carbon Fiber

With T-Slot Aluminum, you get more value than you ever would with welded steel. Need flexibility? You've got it with t-slot aluminum. Need Versatility? Extruded aluminum has that too. Strong in the hot or the cold, corrosion resistant, extruded aluminum has everything you need to get a project done quickly and efficiently. No need to paint or weld unlike steel parts. Get whatever you need built fast and strong with our metric series profiles of extruded aluminum framing.

The T-slot Extruded Aluminum Advantage

For thousands of years humans have been fabricating useful, pleasing furnishings and other structures for the home and workplace out of an impressive range of materials, including straw, mud, stone, wood, brick, iron, steel, and other metals of various sorts. But it is only within the last hundred years or so that aluminum the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust has been utilized in an ever-increasing number of day-to-day applications. Partly this is because a cost-effective process for extracting aluminum from bauxite ore was not perfected until about 1920.

So there is one great advantage of employing aluminum for structural design purposes: it is plentiful. Its other advantageous properties include strength, lightness, formability, high ductility, and excellent corrosion-resistance. The innate utilitarian value of those properties is vastly magnified when the metal is formed into T-slot aluminum extrusions.

In a nutshell, T-slot aluminum forms the basis of a framing system for creating three-dimensional structural assemblies made with a variety of extruded and fabricated aluminum parts. With this system, each length of extruded aluminum contains one or more T-shaped indentations, or slots, into which various attachments (with ends also shaped like a 'T'?) conveniently fit and can slide up and down as needed. This allows you to interconnect other T-slotted aluminum parts into even the most complex configurations without having to clamp and weld them together as you would have to do with steel components.

Here are a few of the key advantages of adopting T-slot aluminum solutions to meet your structural design needs.

Strength

True, steel is harder and 'stronger.' But by the same token, aluminum is among the lightest of metals used for modern engineering purposes, with a molecular density one-third that of steel. As a result, it possesses a strength-to-weight ratio that is actually superior to that of steel . Contrary to what you might think, extruded aluminum is strong enough to handle most structural design and assembly applications.

Once you factor in the inconvenience of moving and positioning heavy pieces of steel not to mention the added labor cost of welding or riveting them together, drilling and tapping holes for mounting bolts, and then cleaning, prepping, priming, and painting the surface of the metal then T-slot aluminum becomes an increasingly attractive option if you are seeking cost-effective structural framing solutions.

Durability

If it's tough enough for trucks, military combat vehicles, and commercial airliners, then rest assured that aluminum is tough enough for more prosaic, everyday purposes. One key aspect of this durability is its resistance to rusting. Rust is to steel as rot is to wood. Unlike steel, for all intents and purposes aluminum doesn't rust at all. A microscopic layer of oxide (which is responsible for the silvery-gray color of anodized aluminum) naturally forms on the surface of the metal and prevents that from happening. You don't even have to prime and paint it in order to protect it! If any of your project's aluminum extrusions or other parts never rust, then you'll never have to replace them saving you money and down-time in the long run.

Versatility

Finally, one of the most important advantages to using T-slot aluminum extrusions and accessories is that, unlike permanently welded steel, the system is modular by design i.e., it is easily changeable. You can connect, position, and fasten together the aluminum profiles however you'd like, using the appropriate fasteners , connectors , and desired accessories . Later on, as needed, you can then adjust and rearrange them in any configuration you like.

The most common type of aluminum fastener used to fasten parts together is the T-nut: just drop it into the T-slot and then twist it into a locked position. That is so much easier than welding!

But where the real magic happens is in the versatility of our aluminum connectors. Just a partial list would include:

quick connectors
T-connectors
tilt connectors
milling connectors
bolt connectors
cube connectors
angle connectors
slotted gussets
corner brackets

Once you've put the finishing touches on the assembly with end caps, casters, cable blocks, machining jigs, tool hangers, cabinet siding, doors, or any of a number of other accessories that we carry, you're good to go!

For maximum versatility for both both our international and domestic customers, be aware that our T-slot aluminum extrusions come in both metric profiles and inch profiles .

From carts to aquarium stands , from shelves to enclosures , and from ergonomic workbenches to eye-catching signs , Framing Tech T-slot aluminum extrusion systems are designed, machined, and assembled for versatility—and they are built to last.

T-Slot Aluminum FAQs

What is T-slot Aluminum Extrusion?
T-slot aluminum extrusion is a structural fabrication material that utilizes an engineered cross-sectional profile that is both strong and versatile in its use.
Will T-slot Aluminum Extrusion corrode?
Our aluminum extrusion is non-corrosive. This is mostly due to the clear anodized finish that comes standard on all of our extrusion, but also due in part to aluminums natural ability to oxidize. The oxidation process creates a secondary layer of protection from corrosion, similar to how copper will patina.
Is T-slot Aluminum Extrusion considered a “Green” material?
Yes! Due to excellent recycling practices most of the aluminum ever produced is still in use today. In fact, aluminum is 100% recyclable and of the most common materials recycled aluminum is the ONLY material that is infinitely recyclable. It is also much lighter than glass and steel per cubic inch, and has a much smaller carbon footprint during fabrication, processing, and shipping.
Why choose aluminum extrusion over steel?
The main advantages are that aluminum extrusion is more versatile, modular, easier to work with, and costs less than steel. Building with aluminum extrusion is as simple as inserting a connector into the t-slot and tightening it into place with standard hand tools. No need to clamp, weld or paint aluminum extrusion. T-slot aluminum extrusion makes it easy to re-locate pieces or add onto your current structure at any time.
What is aluminum extrusion used for?
Currently, T-slot aluminum extrusion is widely used in automation, material handling, safety guarding, manufacturing and laboratory applications. However, many people are adopting t-slot aluminum extrusion for use in a wide variety of projects. Some have even built their own machines such as 3D Printers and CNC machines using our aluminum extrusion.
What is a T-slot, and how do I use it?
A T-slot is what we call the channel that runs the length of our aluminum extrusion shapes. The T-slots are designed to a specific depth and width depending on the material. The T-slot is used mostly for mounting and fastening a wide variety of accessories and panels to the aluminum extrusion. Often, panels will be inserted into the T-slot to quickly create a wall or enclosure.

Many of the woodworking jigs and fixtures I make have at least one length of t-track built into them.

A t-slot aluminum extrusion provides an easy way to make jigs usable for different size workpieces as well as adding an adjustable clamping point for jig accessories such as stop blocks and toggle clamps.

This 1/4' t-slot track has a groove down the middle to keep the drill bit from wandering off center when drilling mounting holes.

A t-slot extrusion can be used in other places besides jigs. Use a pair on a router table to make an adjustable fence. Or use one on the fence to hold a featherboard or two.

Use them whenever you need to clamp anything anywhere along a straight line.

The two most common t-slot sizes are 1/4' and 5/16'. These two sizes will cover most every woodworking application. In fact, I use 1/4' most of the time because it's cheaper and plenty strong for what I use it for.

T Slot Aluminum Desk

These t nuts and t bolts make it easy to attach clamps and other accessories to the t-track.

It is best to use t-nuts and t-bolts when attaching accessories to the track. Regular nuts and bolts can wreck the slot if overtightened.

If you have to use a regular hex bolt, use a small washer to prevent the head of the bolt from digging into the soft aluminum.

I like to get my t-bolts extra long and cut them down to the length needed for each application. This way I only need to keep one length in each size on hand.

Mounting the t track

No matter what your application, you'll have to cut a dado with either a table saw or router to mount the track flush with it's neighboring surface.

A 3/4' x 3/8' deep dado is cut to keep this t track level with the top of the workpiece. I cut this dado with the table saw.

The 1/4' track that I use requires a dado that is 3/8' deep and 3/4' wide. The 5/16' track needs a dado 7/16' deep by 7/8' wide. I think these are fairly standard sizes, but always measure first before cutting.

Some t-track comes with pre-drilled mounting holes, but the version I like to use requires you to drill your own holes. They do however, provide a small groove in the center to help keep the drill bit from wandering.

Drilling your own holes takes a little extra time, but allows me to place them where it's convenient or necessary. I found with the other stuff, I was drilling extra holes where I needed them anyway.

Where to buy

I live in a small city of 35,000 people with only two major building supply centers. Trying to find stuff like this is maddening, so for years I've been ordering hard to find items online.

I get a lot of my jig parts from Lee Valley here in Canada. Look under hardware -- Jig & Fixture Parts. They have a very nice selection of top quality goodies, even if they are a bit pricey.

With the Canadian dollar hanging pretty close with the US dollar these days, I find myself hopping across the virtual border more often when I find great deals online. Online stores like Amazon carry a large assortment of t-track and related hardware.

One of the advantages of living in a large city is selection and availability of products. For those of us that prefer to live in smaller centers, the internet has evened the playing field. We can often get things shipped to our door cheaply and quickly for the same price a guy in the city might pay for gas running around to collect the things he needs. No white knuckle driving or one finger salutes... I love it.