Industrial Automation and Motion Control Blog | The Knotts Company

Every workplace has some level of hazard.  For industrial and assembly workplaces there are particularly dangerous machines that could seriously injure, maim, or kill a person.  Plant workers, managers, and even casual passersby must adhere to very strict safety regulations in order to keep everyone as safe as possible. OSHA has a mountain of regulations for workplace safety. Machine guarding is one particular area that can be very helpful for workplace safety while also helping to improve overall productivity.

Topics: aluminum extrusion, Machine Guarding

The current 80/20 Aluminum extrusion catalog is over 2" thick! There is an enormous amount of information packed in over 1200 pages. Finding what you need doesn't have to be a challenge. We are going to step through some tips and tricks on how to navigate the 80/20 Catalog.

Topics: aluminum extrusion in nj, aluminum extrusion, t-slotted extrusion, knotts company

Topics: aluminum extrusion, t-slotted extrusion

Here is a brief list with some assembly tips and tricks for 80/20 T-slotted Aluminum extrusion. Please share any tips we missed!

Panel Gasket

• Automotive vinyl protectant applied to rubber panel gasket makes installation easier.
• Cut rubber panel gasket 2-3" longer than the opening to make the corners stay tight
• When installing rubber gasket, start by tucking each end in, then work from the middle out

End Fasteners

• When working with end fasteners, pre-assemble the bolt to snug, then back off a 1/4 turn to easily slide the fastener into the T-slot.

Linear Bearings

• If your linear bearings are not sliding properly, try tapping them with a soft face mallet to align the pads with the T-slot.

Panels

• Leave the protective film on the panels to protect them during installation; just roll up the edges until your project is fully assembled.

Joining Plates

• When using joining plates or gussets, leave the bolts loose and clamp the bars to ensure a square fit before you tighten the bolts completely.

End caps

• Tired of end caps popping off? Tap the end of the extrusion. The threads will prevent the plastic plug from popping out.

Topics: aluminum extrusion in nj, aluminum extrusion, t-slotted extrusion

Topics: industrial automation nj/ny, aluminum extrusion, knotts company

80/20 Aluminum Extrusion can be applied just about anywhere. It really is only limited by your imagination. This post is going to cover three applications that we have been involved with in the past 20 years.

Topics: aluminum extrusion in nj, aluminum extrusion, t-slotted extrusion, knotts company, welded steel frame, Machine Guarding

Plant managers and engineers know the importance of safety. OSHA regulations are always at the forefront of safety related decisions, but there are additional precautions that help not only with OSHA compliance but with overall plant and production line safety.

Topics: manufacturing, industrial automation nj/ny, aluminum extrusion in nj, aluminum extrusion, machine guard, Machine Guarding

Recently a Knott's customer contacted us and arranged a visit from our 80/20 Aluminum Extrusion Demo Van to see some of the latest products being offered.  Our account manager Jerry pulled the van right up to the shipping bay to set up shop.  The 80/20 Demo Van contains a fully loaded gurney that shows all the extrusion profiles as well as hands on demos.  Jerry pulled the gurney out and set up shop before the customer's engineers arrived on scene.

Topics: industrial automation nj/ny, resource, aluminum extrusion in nj, aluminum extrusion, t-slotted extrusion, knotts company

On May 23, we started designing a t-slotted aluminum safety enclosure for a specified work envelope. (If you need a quick refresher, head over to Part One)

Now that the overall structure has been designed, we can move to the next step. We will now go through the process of adding the doors and additional hardware that is required.

Designing the Doors.

As stated in the job requirements, we need two doors on opposite sides.  Doors help give maintenance access without requiring disassembly. 

Topics: cost savings, cost effective, aluminum extrusion in nj, aluminum extrusion, t-slotted extrusion, knotts company, machine guard, assembly

Having a safe work environment is extremely important today. Machines have always posed a hazard to the workers due to fast moving parts and possible pinch/crush points. 

Topics: cost effective, industrial automation nj/ny, aluminum extrusion in nj, aluminum extrusion, t-slotted extrusion, machine guard, assembly