Benefits of T-Slotted Aluminum

T-Slotted Aluminum is a metal building system developed by the LTB division of ITW (Illinois Tool Works). The structure of T-slot aluminum extrusions provides a number of benefits over traditional construction techniques. These benefits include improved durability, increased load bearing capacity, easier installation and reconfiguration, additional design freedom, and a reduced number of components. In addition, there are a number of key benefits specific to T-slot aluminum extrusions that make them an ideal choice for a wide range of applications across multiple industries.

T-Slotted Aluminum vs. Other Methods

In traditional construction, steel studs and joists serve as the primary support structure for walls and ceilings. These materials have been the standard for a variety of reasons, including their ease of use and wide availability. However, steel framing techniques have several limitations that make them a less than ideal solution for certain applications, especially those requiring high load bearing capacity or flexibility in design layout.

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T-slot aluminum provides a number of benefits over traditional steel construction, including increased load bearing capacity and design freedom.

The following are some of the limitations of steel framing:

●     Steel studs and joists may warp or twist over time as a result of environmental factors such as humidity and temperature changes.

●     Joist hangers may need to be used to support low ceilings or walls that do not have sufficient bearing capacity. Joists must be placed at least 16″ apart to prevent buckling, which may result in wasted space between joists or require the use of additional sub-structures to fill this gap.

●     Steel is difficult to cut, drill, and route without specialized tools, limiting design layout options.

T-slot aluminum extrusions provide a number of benefits over traditional steel and wood stud framing, including:

●     High durability – T-slot aluminum is resistant to warping and twisting due to environmental factors such as humidity and temperature changes.

●     Easier installation – The pre-tapped holes in the profiles allow for fast joint assembly using screws or bolts (unlike wood studs, which require nails or staples).

●     Flexibility in design layout – With a pre-tapped hole every 1″, the profiles can easily be cut to accommodate irregular spaces. The components can also be joined together using standard fasteners such as screws or bolts. This makes it possible to design a variety of structures that require non-standard dimensions or odd angles.

●     Reduced number of components – Wood studs must be cut to length and attached to the structure using joist hangers, nails, or staples. This adds time and labor costs to the building process because these materials are not easily joined together without additional equipment (unlike T-slot aluminum profiles).

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●     The use of nails or staples can also result in a weaker joint than those created using screws.

Reduced material costs – The profiles are made from extruded aluminum, which is twice as strong as steel at a fraction of the weight. The fasteners used to join the components together also take up less space than a standard wood stud and joist, resulting in a reduced number of plywood panels required.