Very cool - did some further research into tab and slot fixturing and was pleasantly surprised to find out that SolidWorks 2018 has this feature! I have a question for you concerning the method used to cut your parts for the cool vehicles you've built - waterjet, plasma or laser? Did you have any issue with stresses due to the heat with plasma / laser if those were your methods? I would like to look into building a welding fixture table with tab and slot to see if I can get the cuts done locally and save a bit of change versus a Certiflat kit.
Hi Karl, Laser is generally best for accuracy and sharpness of cuts so that is what I recommend using for tab in slot designs. Second choice would be waterjet, with plasma the third choice. I have not experienced stress issues, and heat build up is generally not an issue with laser cutting, and certainly not with the waterjet. Plasma cutting does generate a lot of heat in the part but I have not experienced any issues as a result of it. I do use plasma cutting for my designs that are not tab in slot, as it is more economical. Good luck with all of your projects.
Hey this video was perfect! I’m designing a farming robot to be cut with our new CNC plasma cutter and your tips are very helpful!
There are so many good tips here! I like the idea of different slot+tab widths for different parts. I've been there ;)
Thank you! Very well done and informative video!
Tab and slot is also much cheaper than getting stuff bent.
Very cool - did some further research into tab and slot fixturing and was pleasantly surprised to find out that SolidWorks 2018 has this feature!
I have a question for you concerning the method used to cut your parts for the cool vehicles you've built - waterjet, plasma or laser? Did you have
any issue with stresses due to the heat with plasma / laser if those were your methods? I would like to look into building a welding fixture table
with tab and slot to see if I can get the cuts done locally and save a bit of change versus a Certiflat kit.
Hi Karl, Laser is generally best for accuracy and sharpness of cuts so that is what I recommend using for tab in slot designs. Second choice would be waterjet, with plasma the third choice. I have not experienced stress issues, and heat build up is generally not an issue with laser cutting, and certainly not with the waterjet. Plasma cutting does generate a lot of heat in the part but I have not experienced any issues as a result of it. I do use plasma cutting for my designs that are not tab in slot, as it is more economical. Good luck with all of your projects.