I recently got a bunch of aluminium extrusion so that I can rebuild the Turquoisebot in a more accessible way.
I’ve used OpenBeam before, but not 8020 style extrusion. As a quick test project, I decided to make a standing desk addon for my work table.
“Before you cut firewood, sharpen the axe.”
I noticed the metal bandsaw was cutting atrociously, so I spent an hour re-aligning it & testing out the tension and perpendicularity.
Not perfect, but at least the right angle joints didn’t fail the laugh test when I put them together.

Cutting the lengths

Completed stock
Some assembly later:

The completed table
It should be at the right height to have my elbows perpendicular while standing & using the keyboard.
As a construction method, I’m amazingly happy with it. I have an extremely sturdy frame, and it was very quick to put together. Moreover, if I change my mind in the future I can reuse all the parts easily.
Did you use angle brackets and some kind of T-nuts?
Also, I now old use my metal bandsaw for cutting through really solid or large metal pieces. For aluminium extrusion I use a circular (drop) saw with a metal cutting blade – gives much better right angles!
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Good idea, Kean. I’ve dusted off our metal cuttoff saw from the space, given it a fresh blade, and I’ll use that this weekend on the pilgrimage. I’ll let you know how it goes 🙂
Oh, and it’s angle brackets for the table, with slotted nuts that slide in from the edge. (More of a stamped bit of metal that’s been threaded)
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