Design and manufacture brackets and joints

I have had a lot of trouble finding 120 degree brackets for my hexagon 4080 base and affordable Universal joints and complete heim joints with brackets that fit.

There are lot of cheap heim joints, but zero brackets that fit the 4080 aluminium extrusions.

There are some options designed for 6dof setups with 4080 extrusions, but prices are way up there. (would cost me $2k with shipping for 6x heim joints, 6x u-joints and 12 brackets)

By designing my own versions, and have them cnc'ed in China, I should save >50%,


Example;

I found universal joint with square base for $15 a piece, buying 6x and I will end up paying $30 a piece inc. shipping. That is a good price?

These are 90 degree joints. I am able get two screws into the t-nuts in the 4080 profile in the corner, so willl have to incoorporate these into the corner bracket design to be able to attach the two other screws.


I know a lot of you guys make this stuff yourself, but I suck at metal works so thats not an option. :-D

If anyone are interested, I can upload my CAD files and link to components/suppliers (alibaba) when I have everything finalised and confirmed to work out as expected.

Hi, where did you get the u-joint for $15 a piece? do they retail per piece? I'd be eager to check it out.

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I haven't received anything yet, but so far they have been very responsive and easy to chat with. I could buy as many or few (minimum 2pcs) as I wanted. Payment and shipping is through the alibaba website.

They have a bunch of options, square and round flanges, 45degree to longer 90degree tilt versions etc.

Thank you very much

The heim joint design is ready, adjustable for a 4080 aluminium extrusion t-slot profile.

Hopefully cutting and bending some 5mm steel wont be too expensive. The large 120-degree brackets will cost $7 in 5mm stainless steel, hopefully these brackets will be similarly priced.

I chose a solid M18 heim joint.

Any suggestions for changes?

I am waiting for 2x100mm 4080 pieces to test and tune the design, so I get the holes just right.

Will be ordering aluminium extrusion for actual build from Alibaba, but need to be sure I order the right amounts of 4080W and 4040W as shipping (sea) is 1/3rd the cost - still havent finalised any platform/base designs.

Edit: will adjust to a double-heim joint bracket, and the u-joints has a 2-3mm high 40mm circle on each end which needs a cnced groove on the corner bracket.

My universal joints arrived

These are awesome - $15 a piece, and same cost in shipping.

Edit: Admin, feel free to move this thread if it should be placed elsewhere.

Thanks for the pics, the square plates u-joints seem to be more compact than the circular plates and the 52 x 52 square plates looks more than adequate for any project.

They might be, I didnt really look that much into the round flange models. I was trying to find a model to fit with the t-slots in the aluminium profiles. (Only partly successful, so will end up adapting the corner brackets anyway.. could have used any model)

I chose a version which is 10cm tall as this can move 90degrees. (Might not be needed, but figured better safe than sorry). Yeah, these are heavy beasts, I cant really see that these would ever meet a problem they cant handle with ease.

They have another version of the 52x52 which is 8cm tall, but is limited to 45degrees.

Btw.

I did receive more details for the round flange models - see attached photos.