Aluminum t-slot extrusions have become a popular alternative to welded steel for many applications, but they require careful consideration of design parameters to ensure their structural integrity. This guideline provides essential information on determining the strength of single-sided jointed connections when subjected to moment, torsion, and friction forces.
Assumptions and Safety Factors
For the purpose of this guideline, the following assumptions are made:
- Moment loading is created by a vertical force applied 1000 mm from the joint.
- All bolts are assumed to be torqued to 10-13 Nm.
- Friction loading is created by a vertical force directly on the joint, with negligible torsion or moment.
- Given values are valid for structural extrusions: ST-EXT-001-XXXX, ST-EXT-002-XXXX, and ST-EXT-005-XXXX.
It is essential to determine safety factors according to your industry's standards. A general safety factor of 4-5 is suggested, and it should always be increased if there is any risk of injury occurring due to system failure.
Gusset Tables
The following tables provide the strength values for single-sided jointed connections when subjected to moment, torsion, and friction forces.
| Gussets | Friction (N) | Moment (Nm) | Torsion (Nm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST-GP-003-0001 / ST-HP-003-0001* | 2100 / 2100 | 127 / 127 | 0 / 100 |
| Buckling Failure** |
*: These configurations assume no contact between the extrusions, which is common in assembled structures.
**: This configuration is more dependent on a buckling failure mode than friction. Use the calculation methods for buckling shown in Section 1 of this .
Plate Tables
The following tables provide the strength values for single-sided jointed connections when subjected to moment, torsion, and friction forces.
| Plates | Friction (N) | Moment (Nm) | Torsion (Nm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST-GP-001-0005*** | 6300 | 235 | 70 |
| ST-GP-003-0001*** | 6300 | 725 | 85 |
| ST-HP-001-0001*** | 4200 | 325 | 45 |
***: The values for these configurations are for joints fixed by an assembly plate on a single side.
Other Tables
The following tables provide the strength values for single-sided jointed connections when subjected to moment, torsion, and friction forces.
| Other | Friction (N) | Moment (Nm) | Torsion (Nm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST-GP-002-0001 | 4200 | 100 | 165 |
| ST-GP-001-0004*** | 4200 | 215 | 65 |
| ST-HP-001-0001 | 2100 | 500 | 390 |
| ST-HP-001-0001 | 2100 | 500 | 390 |
Aluminum t-slot extrusions offer a compelling alternative to welded steel for many applications, but they require careful design considerations. If you need any help with your project or simply want to confirm some design parameters, please do not hesitate to ask our team of application engineers using Vention's live chat or email us at: [email protected].
Vention V1 Extrusion Properties
The following table provides the properties of Vention V1 extrusions.
| Part Number | Length range (mm) | Yield strength (MPa) | Area moment of inertia (mm^4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST-EXT-001-XXXX | 45-2,295 | 140 | 154,260 |
| ST-EXT-002-XXXX | 45-3,330 | 140 | 1,105,496 Ix*** |
| ST-EXT-005-XXXX | 45-3,330 | 140 | 1,840,143 |
*Area moment of inertia (or the second moment of area) describes a profile's resistance to beam bending. A higher value indicates less deflection.
***Note: The 45 x 90 mm and 22.5 x 180 extrusions' moment of inertia depend on the extrusion's orientation.