We've already covered in great detail the advantages that T-slot aluminum profiles have over other framing solutions, with their built-in modularity, ease of use, durability, and lower cost. However, when it comes to choosing the right aluminum extrusion for your project, you may find that you're spoiled for choice.

In addition to our Ready Tube, Quick Frame, and standard T-slot framing systems, 80/20 also offers a line of Lite and Ultra-Lite T-slot profiles. Although these profiles are designed to be lighter than their standard counterparts, they still offer the same open T-slots on each face and grooves to assist with alignment. They also use the same-size fasteners as the standard profiles.

The special design of the Lite and Ultra-Lite profiles gives them a couple of advantages over standard profiles.

• Lighter Weight. Since Lite and Ultra-Lite profiles are made with less aluminum, they weigh a little less than comparable standard profiles.
• Cost Effective. Less aluminum also means lower cost, which is why Lite and Ultra-Lite profiles are more economical when compared to its standard equivalent.

These differences may seem negligible at a base level, but they will add up as a project increases in scale. For example, let's say you wanted to build a 6' cubic frame, which requires 12 profiles that are 6 feet in length. If you construct it with 1515 standard profiles, it's going to weigh 97.03 lbs. Constructed with 1515 Lite profiles, the same cube will weigh 22% less (75.43 lbs.) and cost 17-20% less in materials. With 1515 Ultra-Lite profiles, it will weigh 32% less (66.36 lbs.) and cost 21-24% less in materials.

Lite (and Ultra-Lite) profiles provide you with many of the benefits of the standard profiles but at a lighter weight and cost. As such, they are best suited for applications with lower load requirements such as guarding solutions, retail displays, workstations, and other applications that aren’t focused on load bearing.

If you're not sure whether or not Lite/Ultra-Lite extrusions will work with your expected profile load, 80/20 has this handy downloadable Tech Toolkit™ that provides easy access to several design tools, including our Conversion and Deflection Calculators to help you choose the profile that’s best for you.

We also have a team of local distributor partners and on-staff design technicians standing by to help you optimize your project by identifying your best and most economical options.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact 80/20 Inc.