Clamping Latch for Parallel 40-series [8040] Aluminum T-slot Extrusion

thingiverse

The one part I have never found on aluminum extrusion profile websites is a part to not just hold but "clamp" hold two parallel-axis pieces of extrusion. They make hinge parts to position the two profiles this way, and things like gate-style pins to affix them on the face opposite the hinged face, but the two parts can still 'rattle' a little bit. Needed something that could draw them against one another (in effect straining the hinge-pin side a bit), for a project where that slight movement was still annoying. This design is intended to use 6mm rod stock as the 2 pins that hold the 'bails' to the fixed nub, and the 'cam handle' to the bails. The two fixed pieces, nub and latch, each connect to the 40-series T-slot with standard type hardware. (M6 bolts). The M6 bolts are fairly close together to make this not too big a part overall, so either offset 'economy' T-nut plates or the 'hammerhead' style rotate-in should be used inside the profile slot. The test print worked great, and from that image I only really modified the handle to make it a bit longer to grip, also beefing up the bails a little and making the 6mm rod opening not be a full 'thru' hole to captivate the cut lengths better. (Test pic here I just used 6mm grub screws I had lying around rather than cut stock to length, yet; will upload a new pic after the final print with all hardware is installed.) For strength, nub and latch and handle should all be printed ON THEIR SIDE, which means support in the bolt holes is recommended (but the 6mm rod stock holes will be vertical and print perfectly without support). The bails should be printed flat, captivation-side down and 6mm opening side up. As shown in the CAD images these should rigidly hold 2 profiles about 2mm apart assuming the hinges on the opposite side provide the tension to match. (The spacing is based on the way 8020.net hinges hold the two profiles.)