Grid Beam

[James Ronald]

Fellow Makers,

I was hoping to whip up a quick power wheels based robot this weekend
using grid beam. I thought that grid beam or at least something
similar was available commercially. Anyone aware of such a commercial
product that's available from a local source (Home Depot, Lowes, TSC,
ACE hardware or such).

Thanks.
- Jim

[Keith Mc]

James Ronald <james....@gmail.com> wrote:
> I was hoping to whip up a quick power wheels based robot this weekend
> using grid beam. I thought that grid beam or at least something

> similar was available commercially. [Local sources, eg Home Depot, Lowes, TSC, etc.]

I don't know of a local source of grid beam.

However, both Alro Metals and Home Depot stock aluminum C-channel,
and L-channel, as do may other of the hardware stores.

Bob Stack might know of a place for 8020/IPS/Bosch style structural aluminum.
It's the "X" shape, that accepts slide in T-nuts. Not light (nor cheap), but
it's easy to work with, and the next best thing to Grid Beam.

- Keith Mc.

[Justin Konen]

I found some Telespar poles (I think that's a brand name, not sure what the generic name is) at the Home Depot off Carpenter a few months ago.  It's usually used for street signs, and they didn't have a lot of quantity on hand, but I got six 6' sticks of it for a pretty reasonable price (which I now can't remember).  It is NOT gridbeam compatible though; the spacing is smaller, and the holes are larger.  If you don't need a lot of it, and don't need to mix and match with other gridbeam stuff, it may work for your needs.  I cleaned them out back in December, if they haven't been picked over by another maker I'm guessing they'd have some on hand.

[Paul Haas]

For Lowes, the magic keywords for searching are "perforated tubing". For it to count as grid beam, the hole spacing has to match the width of beam. I believe only the 1 inch square tubing counts. 

Steelworks Plated Perforated Tube 1 x 3' 14 Gauge

Item #: 103642 |  Model #: 11197

 

Be the first to write a review!

$16.74

Homedepot has something similar, but I failed at figuring out a search term to find it online.

Stadium hardware stocked something like that too.

[Gyll Stanford]

Ron,       Will sign post material work?  I showed a framing tool I made out of that product a couple of months ago.  I have a bunch of it. Holes are 1 inch on center on all four sides. size is about 1 1/2' then the next size one will slide over that size along with the next size. Call me if you want to see it/try it. Gyll Stanford  734-649-0974 --- On Fri, 5/25/12, James Ronald <james....@gmail.com> wrote:

------------------------------------ GO-Tech (formerly NotBAGO) is a meeting for Ann Arbor area readers of Make Magazine, Circuit Cellar, Home Shop Machinist, Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools, slashdot, etc.  That is, people who are interested in and make things using technology, whether that's a metal cutting lathe or a Python script.  A kind of generalized mixture of CerealBar, DorkBot, Oxford Geek night, and Portland Machinist Guild.  We have machinists, electrical engineers, software folks, industrial control types, and so on.  We share projects, information about tools and ideas, and connect with like-minded people.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/notbago/ <*> Your email settings:     Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to:     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/notbago/join     (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email:     notbago...@yahoogroups.com     notbago-fu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:     notbago-u...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/