# I need to assemble a frame using modular pieces **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 10, 2021, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359 "2021-08-10T03:05:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/1 "2021-08-10T03:05:43Z")
My new job is at a clothing printing company that uses small heat presses to print vinyl stickers to hoodies and shirts etc. But the way it’s done right now, with rulers and estimation, is slow and imprecise. So my plan is to implement some kind of simple frame to bolt on that will have sliding rulers and guides to make work go faster. My initial idea is to use extruded aluminium rods, the square slotted kind, and a nylon plate to slide along it for the ruler guides to be attached to. Anyway, my question is if anyone knows of a site that has an extensive range of add ons and bits and pieces to make the modular system easy for me to pick-and-mix from, like a constructor set or Lego. Or maybe a better system I could use instead. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/2 "2021-08-10T03:27:00Z")
I’d need to know a bit more about what you envisage. Are you just talking about a frame, or also movable parts? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/3 "2021-08-10T03:32:16Z")
[![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/U05nYzQF9dZz0Dil6M_Hbnoh7bgtlkzfJ51-oPoC11qKuom1eaCQNRA-A-CxMh13M7AAknk3NKNd0Kvp9uwO-whAECWMeDBDWAQoaRApNcQlK-4lG8zAgVP0NpJKVjsHkrI10fCEDA=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Paul Potiki") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mhf66kEcX7wBAixj8) Yes. The moving parts will be a plate sliding along a guide rail, supporting rulers folding from the left and right. I am confident the design will work, I just want to assemble it using parts, rather than some kind of expensive bespoke build. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/4 "2021-08-10T03:40:31Z")
I don’t have a total solution but people into serious woodworking make jigs that involve similar concepts and you might be able to put something together using jig components: [https://www.carbatec.com.au/jig-making-components](https://www.carbatec.com.au/jig-making-components). ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/5 "2021-08-10T03:50:34Z")
I have seen modular linear guide rails used for small-scale CNC machining. Surely parts like that (maybe aluminium?) can be ordered rather than requiring expensive custom-engineered parts. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/6 "2021-08-10T04:00:46Z")
> **[80/20 Aluminum T-slot Building Systems|80/20 Aluminum Extrusions](https://8020.net/)** > > T-Slots, aluminum extrusions, and parts. Architectural solutions and frames for industrial machine guards, workstations, data center enclosures, and more. Build your idea with 80/20 today. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/7 "2021-08-10T04:33:05Z")
Perfect! 8020 is just what I was looking for. I hope I can find what I need there. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/8 "2021-08-10T05:03:30Z")
Useful site, thanks Snarky\_Kong. Looks like they have an Australian distributor, GL. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/9 "2021-08-10T05:52:23Z")
Yes. I’ll look through that site tonight and see if it has what I need. At the moment the mobile phone version of the site is hard to navigate ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/10 "2021-08-10T11:37:14Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Anyway, my question is if anyone knows of a site that has an extensive range of add ons and bits and pieces to make the modular system easy for me to pick-and-mix from, like a constructor set or Lego. Thingiverse would also be your friend there, if you either have a 3D printer, or can get things printed locally. I’m using some thingiverse-sourced brackets, hinges and the like in building a heat enclosure for my 3D-printer/CNC out of extrusions. The basic frame and t-nuts etc are all from a local site similar to 8020, but the rest are prints. ---
**Author:** ![Happytree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happytree/32/3555_2.png) [@Happytree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happytree)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/11 "2021-08-11T03:37:44Z")
I second [8020.net](http://8020.net) It’s really easy to work with Also, i have a buddy who presses shirts as you describe, small scale, like a side business. He may have some “tricks of the trade” to share. Feel free to PM me, but no telling if/when I’ll get back with info. I’m gonna show my buddy your design above ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/12 "2021-08-11T06:51:42Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Looks like they have an Australian distributor, GL. The Aus distributor doesn’t have everything. And it’s not clear what fits together how. I’ll need to play. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/13 "2021-08-12T06:04:53Z")
I’m now thinking about building a whole table and integrating the frames directly into a raised platform. More research needed! [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-UMuWmJTuDg1P3fsO3gQJj-HhmXoNg0CSWtcP4snjSjUcfLSLiCvyaYNpU2zEKnWGYvxyV-gsbcLK-hLlHZssdwmmQqCwEYGf8OMIkw-3qC6Cn4ezm7jS4URmttgzkTlhJrAO8fWg=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Paul Potiki") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/gUmWPspDT9b24Wuv8) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-assemble-a-frame-using-modular-pieces/948359/14 "2021-08-12T07:07:15Z")
I can’t help wondering if the components of a technical drawing/drafting table might be adaptable for the rulers and guides part of this project. For the desk/table part, another potential modular construction option is here: [Connectors](https://www.playwood.it/en/diy-wooden-projects-connectors/)