Aluminum t slot nuts?

[DiscoDan]

Everything I see online is steel. Will aluminum (6061) not hold up? Thinking of making my own for my Pratt & Whitney 3C. I can buy 3/8" nuts online but one thing I don't like is that the width of those nuts is 5/8" and my width can be 7/8" and I would like to take advantage of the full width.

 

[T Bredehoft]

The width won't be the problem, the threads will eventually pull out.

 

[Downunder Bob]

At least with aluminium "T" nuts you'r unlikely to damage the "T" slots in the table.

 

[rwm]

I just made a bunch out of mild steel on my lathe. Very easy. I agree that the threads will fail in aluminum.

Robert

 

[Bob Korves]

I also prefer mild steel. Strong enough, yet will not damage the t-slots if all the edges and corners are well rounded, not just lightly deburred. They are cheap to make, and can be made to the clearances you personally want. Make the threads so they do not let the bolts go through the bottom of them, or damage the bottom of the thread with a cold chisel. Protecting the t-slots from damage is important. Make sure that when you pull up on the finished nuts, the top surfaces are still adequately below the table top, otherwise they will not tighten in the slots and will slip. Swarf can also cause a problem of the t-nuts slipping in the slots if that tolerance is too close, I prefer the t-nut tops about .030" below the table top (or more) when pulled up.

 

[JimDawson]

A Heli-Coil would make the threads almost permanent

 

[benmychree]

It would be time wasted to make aluminum nuts, they would not hold up, stripping threads being the problem, they would also imbed chips, causing roughening of the slots; mild steel is fine, alloy steel even better, case hardened, even better than that, as most purchased tee nuts are, at least the quality ones.

 

[samstu]

I don't disagree with what has been said above by experts. However, some people do successfully use aluminum t nuts.

See "Chirpy's Tinkerings" on youtube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCYCuE8KFwaIgG76kPTVR5jA/featured This guy makes and uses aluminum t nuts. He also casts and uses machine vises, dividing heads, tools out of aluminum. Maybe not a study in best practices, but does show what can be done with limited expenditures and some thought. I especially recommend his video on making v blocks.

 

[P. Waller]

Why not make them from aluminum?
If a hobbyist it is unlikely that you are clamping multiple parts every day for weeks, months or years.
When they fail replace them, in the long run it is likely more cost effective to buy inexpensive steel nuts then it will ever be to make them.

 

[ThinWoodsman]

I made some aluminum T-nuts for use on the Taig mill. Haven't had any problems. Only real downside is you have to use coarse threads .