Metric Rectangular Tube Help

[tyyost]

I just acquired a used tablesaw saw, and it looks like someone butchered the fence tube. I priced out a factory replacement and it is incredibly expensive. My next plan is to simply fabricate a replacement tube. As all projects, it turns out the tubing is metric sized, so off the shelf metal from my collection wont work.

The tubing outside dimensions are by my best measurement 20mm by 60mm. I was hoping it was a standard size and I could find a stock size or even an 80/20 extrusion to make my life easier, but so far no dice. I did some online searching but it seems metric tube is something not found commonly in the wild. The only reqirement is that the wall thickness is enough to withstand normal t-square fence clamping pressures without distortion. Length of 4-5 feet would be more than adequate for my needs.

Any resources I can use to find the requisite tube?

 

[mogandave]

3/4" X 2 3/8"?

 

[RPH]

Metric steel is expensive in the USA. We are owned by the Norwegians and it’s metric everything in machine building.
We had German bound tools to build. Engineering manager figured Canada was metric and just order from there. He found they were metric everywhere but metal supplies. The still use inches on it. We had to get plates Blanchard ground to meet the metric specifications. Expensive, time consuming task. Metric copper tubing for the coils was even more daunting. Look at European suppliers if it must be metric.

 

[Alaver20]

I would look into Bosch Rexroth aluminum extrusion (Metric version of 80/20), I believe they make some 20x60mm extrusion, and I was able to get some here in Canada, which makes me believe you might be able to find it in the US.

 

[RoninB4]

Why does it have to be tube? Why not solid and mill to your specs, lot's cheaper and not that much more weight. Extruded tube seldom has perpendicular or parallel sides, machining from solid can ensure it will. You didn't mention the material you wanted.

 

[PCustoms]

Closest they have in stock, **** 2 together?




Look here too, no online pricing though

Metric Rectangular Tubes Carbon Steel | Metric Metal

North America's largest supplier of carbon steel 1005/1018 metric rectangular tubes.

www.metricmetal.com

 

[matt_i]

I would customize to a north american standard. Assuming its a clamp-based cam-system ala Biesemeyer, all you really have to modify then is the cam support bracket. If really close you might be able to make a new cam...which is just a piece of round drilled off-center.

Machine solid over 5ft length sounds like a very expensive job as most shops won't have a machine with that kind of travels to knock it out in one shot. Can surely chip away at it 6-10" at a time and blend the end result but still not an easy job with 54" hanging off the side of the table at the stop + start.

 

[The Cobbler]

I as well would look at shimming or milling the throat of the fence to accommodate off the shelf SAE tube size
20 MM is not that big, what length is this fence? and what is the orientation ?

 

[kerrynzl]

That is a furniture tubing size......

 

[wedel1]

Try Misumi. They have 30x60mm extrusion.

MISUMI: Industrial Configurable Components Supply

MISUMI is your one stop shop for all your manufacturing needs, including configurable factory automation, press die and plastic mold components. Use misumiusa.com to access a wide variety of free CAD downloads and online configuration, ordering and quoting of over 80 sextillion parts.

us.misumi-ec.com

 

[MBfreak]

I would be happy to send you a piece from Sweden. Shipping will be a bit expensive.
Let me know by PM if you are interested and I will find out.
Or contact a technical company ( like ie Hitachi, Bosch etc ) that ships loads of stuff from Europe and can stick in an extra piece for a couple of sixpacks.
Has worked well for me US to Sweden.
Ola