Double "T" nut

[Toolmaker51]

Worthwhile project editor@glue-it.com. I'll double your point about rounded ends. Radiused ends are beneficial, especially on blind slots, making use of all length possible, inserting easier too. Also less prone to jam in contours manufacturer milled in slot.
Admitting freely, small rotary tables need these just as larger do, inescapable. What ever table is at hand, some project is too big for the one available, and not only part wise...sub-plates too!

I prefer Tee Nuts be tapped through to broaden selection of stud & capscrew length. Often I find a setup needs as low-profile clamping possible. But on the fence about suggesting them without caveat that running fasteners all the way through exerts force in the wrong direction; breaking out Tee slots or marring inside where Tee Nuts won't slide along anymore. 2 trays, fasteners in appropriate lengths won't set you back as much $.$$ as replacing tooling or fixtures.

[Toolmaker51]

You might like these long T-nuts that I made for the rotary table
Attachment 20959

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. [One for each slot.]
Far easier to extend a table than buy, and/ or lift a larger rotary table.

[madokie]

i have made these up to use on an very old drill press where the T-slots were worn out or broken, and the extra long T-nuts worked just fine..

[editor@glue-it.com]

Long T-nuts would be great where the T-slots are broken, this might show they are weak and so spreading the load is good.

Thought I would also share these as an idea:


I made them for the low-profile clamp and they are just made out of mild steel bar, but with 6mm and 8mm threads. The 6mm threads were to allow 6mm countersunk bolts to be used. However, these T-nuts are generally just useful to have around, how often to you want to fix something to the table with a smaller bolt through the centre?

[Toolmaker51]

Often Tee slots are grossly mistreated in machines and tooling; accidentally by an owner, far more by those who didn't pay for them...
With a decent array of machines/ tooling, one or two have such damage, yet all bought used. A broken Tee slot, holes drilled into tables or vises etc, compel close examination for other issues, I usually pass on them.
Equally, ever see a 36" Ridgid pipe wrench and bent handle; is it a sign of desperation or inadequate resources? After all, they are made bigger, before graduating to pipe tongs or compound wrenches.

[DIYer]

Thanks editor@glue-it.com! We've added your Double T-Nuts to our Fastening category,
as well as to your builder page: editor@glue-it.com's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Double T-Nuts by editor@glue-it.com

tags: fasteners, holding

[marksbug]

dam. so eazy and so smart!!! awesome idea.

[marksbug]

I like the 2 hole sized t nuts, and they way he is using it. ( the glue it guy) but 1 more addtion to it... make a 1/4~1/2 ball&seat to go under the nut on the main stud for eazey piviot and no bending of the stud..

[Toolmaker51]

Pivoting a tee-nut may concentrate stress on the tee-slot, if I read your intent correctly. A far better solution in avoiding bending of clamp studs is spherical nuts and washers, or the equivalent paired washers.
United Drill Bushing, Carr-Lane, TECO and many more companies make them.

[olderdan]

T nuts with through tapped holes while easier to make can be modified to stop studs or bolts from bottoming out on the base of the slots. A trick I learnt years ago is to give the bottom of the thread a good whack with a conical punch to burr over the end thread, this stops any fixing from going through.