Clever Little 3D-printed Clamps for 8020 Aluminum Extrusion

Nothing much. Just showing off some fringe benefits of building a "pit" with 8020 (or clones) extrusion are.

What everybody thought first of using these 8020 extrusion is the benefit of quick construction. It's easy to cut, and can be quickly framed using store bought connectors, and screws. But the other well-known benefit is easy to hang stuff to the frame, all kinds of stuff.

The first picture below shows a basic hollowed 1x1" block. This could be used to "screw" in rails. I wouldn't put it to lock in two major structural load bearing frame, but for minor frames like left, right console rails for an F-16. It's plenty strong. Just don't put you ass on it. You basically slid in the "T-plug" from the end of the 10x10 rail, and then screw in the other one.



The next picture shows a split basic block (filled in), and with bigger holes for holding cables. You press in 1/2" T-plug anywhere you want. put the cable on it. And you put in the other half piece, slide to form a complete 1x1 block just like the one to the right. You can even split the basic block into 3 pieces (split one of the 1/2 block into two again), and so on and so forth. There are unlimited number of ways you can play this for different purposes.




The next one is a two-piece setup (printed in gray this time). The piece on the left has a C-shape with two T-plugs. Then, the piece on the right is a 3/4" thickness of the basic block, with a complete T-plug. When you slid the C-shape block over to the 3/4" block, then lock into each other tight (depending on the tolerance you print). So, no tool locking of two perpendicular rails.

Why? Well... I want the two side consoles to be each on two 1010 rails. And under each there are two Japanese Torii gate like rail structure that allows me to raise and lower the console rails to fit it in VR. This is a no-tool-quick-connect set allowing me to quickly adjust the left and right position of the console rails. Quick connect might not be needed frequently in VR, but my pit is designed to be a multi-use pit, i.e. I want to be able to quickly take down the console rails and swap in some other consoles... say an F-35, or an AH-64 console rail? All I have to do to take console rails set and swap out is to slid the 4x C-shaped blocks back, and the console can be taken down. Of course, I will have to unplug the USB cables, etc. But ,I do plan to put a USB hub on the console rail itself, making it a self-contained "module."

These are just some "selected" piece I have already designed and tested. I won't bother you with them.



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