Floor-to-Frame Options for 80/20 T-Slot Builds
Floor-to-Frame Options for 80/20 T-Slot Builds
When designing an 80/20 aluminum framing solution, it's important to decide how mobile or stationary your equipment is going to be. Will you need to be able to move it or will you be anchoring it to the floor to keep it in place? Do you need to ensure it sits level, regardless of the surface it's on? And will it have to contend with the vibrations of attached or adjacent machinery?
These "floor-to-frame" considerations can be easily addressed through a variety of components available from 80/20. In this post, we're going to take a look at the available options and discuss their uses.
Casters are small wheels that are affixed to the base of large equipment so that it can be moved easily from one location to another. Some casters are designed to swivel for easier navigation, while others are rigid to provide additional strength. Many casters come with locks so you can secure your equipment in place without worrying about accidental rolling. There are even leveling casters, which have adjustable heights and let you construct a build that can switch easily between mobile and stationary.
Adjustable position floor locks use a spring-loaded rubber foot pad to keep portable equipment from shifting or moving accidentally. These floor locks are designed for use with heavier equipment. Anything lighter than the minimum weight won't be properly immobilized. By default, the minimum weight is 70 lbs (31.75 kg), but this can be adjusted as high as 120 lbs (54.43 kg).
Leveling feet (or leveling pads) are an adjustable floor-to-frame option for stationary machinery and builds. Some are designed to swivel slightly, allowing for quick and easy adjustment to keep your frame level. Others are specially designed to provide an extra level of stability by reducing vibration.
80/20 offers an extensive line of floor brackets that allow you to anchor stationary machinery directly to a solid concrete floor. Designed to mount directly to a T-slot profile, the brackets offer the ultimate in stability. Some are even adjustable, with screw-and-stop plates that can be adjusted up and down without having to lift or move the entire structure.
Floor-to-Frame Solutions to Meet Your Every Need
Whether you want your frame to be easily moved, to sit on stationary legs, or be mounted permanently to the floor, 80/20 has floor-to-frame solutions you need. For more information on choosing a floor-to-frame option that suits your project needs, check out this video from 80/20's How to Design series.