PG45 45 x 60 mm Four Slot Aluminium Strut Profile Rectangular Beam

OEM / ODM Available Free Sample Available Mill certificate to EN 10204 3.1 on request, RoHS and REACH declarations

45 x 60 mm four-slot rectangular aluminium strut profile with directional bending stiffness. Strong axis I approx. 10.5 cm4, weak axis I approx. 5.9 cm4. M8 slot nuts, Phi12 mm bore.

Wholesale Price Quoted per metre against section, finish and quantity per per metre

Material	Aluminium
Alloy Grade	6063-T5
Temper	T5
Section Size	45 x 60 mm rectangular, four slot
Slot	4 x 10.2 mm groove, 10 mm mouth, one per face, M8
Length	6 m stock, cut to drawing to +/-0.5 mm
Tolerance	EN 755-9 / GB/T 6892, wall +/-0.15 mm
Surface	Mill finish / clear anodised / black anodised
MOQ	Made to order; small trial lengths available from stock offcuts
Lead Time	Typically 2 to 3 weeks for mill finish, about a week longer for anodising
Loading Port	Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao
Supply Ability	Extrusion capacity for standard and custom dies, with in-house cutting, machining and anodising
Payment Terms	T/T 30 per cent deposit, balance against copy of bill of lading; L/C at sight for larger orders
Trade Terms	FOB, CIF, CFR, EXW
Certifications	Mill certificate to EN 10204 3.1 on request, RoHS and REACH declarations

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Cross section of the 45 x 60 mm four-slot rectangular strut profile. The 60 mm depth gives the strong bending axis; the 45 mm depth gives the weak axis. Four 10.2 mm T-slots, one per face.

01What is a 45 x 60 rectangular strut profile?

Why use a rectangular section instead of a square one?

A rectangular section puts more material further from the neutral axis on one direction, giving higher bending stiffness in that direction and lower in the perpendicular direction. The 45 x 60 has its strong axis along the 60 mm depth: a second moment of area of about 10.5 cm4, which is about 1.8 times the 5.9 cm4 about the weak axis (the 45 mm depth). A square 45 x 45 has 7.7 cm4 about both axes. So the rectangular section is stronger in one direction and weaker in the other, and the frame designer uses that asymmetry to put material where the load is.

How is it oriented in a frame?

The rule is simple: orient the 60 mm depth in the direction of the load. For a horizontal beam carrying a downward load, the 60 mm dimension is vertical (depth). For a vertical column carrying a side load, the 60 mm dimension faces the load direction. Getting this wrong is the most common error with rectangular sections — it reduces the effective stiffness by 44 per cent.

Is it the same as the 45 x 45 with extra material?

No. The 45 x 60 is a different die, not a 45 x 45 with a bigger wall. The slot layout is one slot per face (four total), but the two 60 mm faces have the slot centred with more material on either side, while the two 45 mm faces are tighter. The centre bore runs through the 60 mm dimension.

Rectangular section: 60 mm depth, 45 mm width. The strong bending axis is along the 60 mm dimension. Four 10.2 mm T-slots, one per face. Phi12 mm bore.

02Section data

Item	Value	Note
Envelope	45 x 60 mm	rectangular, not square
Slots	4	10.2 mm groove, 10 mm mouth, one per face
Strong axis I	approx. 10.5 cm4	about the 60 mm depth
Weak axis I	approx. 5.9 cm4	about the 45 mm depth
Ratio strong/weak	approx. 1.8	directional stiffness
Centre bore	Phi12 mm	tapped M14, through the 60 mm dimension
Corner holes	8 x 8 mm	tapped M10
Weight	approx. 2.8 kg/m	between the 45×45 (2.35) and 60×60 (3.6)
Alloy	6063-T5	EN AW-6063
Standard	EN 755-9 / GB/T 6892	wall tolerance +/-0.15 mm
Length	6 m stock	cut to drawing to +/-0.5 mm

The second moment of area figures are derived from the published 45 and 60 series sections, scaled to the 45 x 60 envelope. Treat them as approximate; a certified calculation can be provided if the figure feeds into a structural verification.

03Directional stiffness: what the 1.8 ratio means

The 1.8 ratio between the strong and weak axes is the whole reason the rectangular section exists. On a square section, the stiffness is the same in both directions, so there is no saving from orientation — you pay for material in both directions whether you need it or not. On the rectangular section, you put the material where the load is and save it where it is not.

For a horizontal beam of 1 m span carrying 100 N at the centre:

Orientation	I (cm4)	Deflection at 100 N	vs 45×45 square
60 mm depth vertical (strong)	10.5	0.20 mm	-46 per cent
45 mm depth vertical (weak)	5.9	0.36 mm	-3 per cent
45 x 45 square (for reference)	7.7	0.28 mm	baseline

Oriented correctly, the 45 x 60 deflects 46 per cent less than the 45 x 45 square at the same span and load. Oriented incorrectly (60 mm horizontal), it deflects only 3 per cent less than the square, which is a waste of the extra 0.45 kg/m of material.

04Where it goes in a frame: columns and beams

The 45 x 60 is most commonly used in two positions in a machine frame:

Frame position	Orientation	Why 45 x 60
Horizontal beam carrying downward load	60 mm depth vertical	strong axis resists gravity load, 46 per cent less deflection than square
Vertical column carrying side load	60 mm depth facing the load	strong axis resists the lateral force
Base rail on the floor	60 mm depth horizontal	wide footprint for stability; weak axis carries the frame weight (axial)
Top rail (light load)	either orientation	if the load is small, orientation does not matter much

The key insight is that every member in the frame has a known load direction. Gravity is always downward. Side loads come from a known direction (the cutting force, the robot reach, the conveyor feed). A rectangular section lets you match the member to the load, and the 1.8 ratio means that match is worth about 46 per cent in deflection for a correctly oriented beam.

05The slot layout and what fits where

All four slots are the standard 45 series 10.2 mm groove with 10 mm mouth, taking M8 slot nuts. The two 60 mm faces have the slot centred with about 25 mm of material on either side, giving plenty of room for brackets and panel fixings. The two 45 mm faces have the slot centred with about 17.5 mm on either side, which is tighter but still takes standard accessories.

The Phi12 mm centre bore runs through the 60 mm dimension, so through-bolting with an M14 tie rod works along the strong axis — the bolt is in tension along the direction of highest stiffness.

06Choosing between rectangular and square

Choose the 45 x 60 rectangular

The load direction is known and is primarily in one direction
You want higher stiffness in one direction without a heavier square section
The frame has beams carrying gravity or columns carrying side loads
You can control the orientation during assembly
The weight saving vs a 60 x 60 square matters (2.8 vs 3.6 kg/m)

Choose the 45 x 45 square

The load direction is unknown or multi-directional
The frame may be reconfigured and the load direction could change
Simpler assembly is more important than the stiffness gain
You cannot guarantee correct orientation by the assembler
The accessory ecosystem is simpler (square sections are the standard)

07Failure modes to design out

What goes wrong	Why it happens	Design it out by
Member oriented the wrong way	the rectangular section looks similar from both ends and can be rotated 90 degrees by mistake	mark the strong axis on the cut list and the drawing; use an orientation stamp
Deflection is higher than expected	the member was oriented on the weak axis instead of the strong axis	recalculate using the 5.9 cm4 weak-axis value, not the 10.5 cm4 strong-axis
Bracket does not fit on the 45 mm face	the 45 mm face is tighter than the 60 mm face	use the 60 mm faces for wide brackets; reserve the 45 mm faces for standard slot nuts and small fittings
Joint rotates under torque	the rectangular section has lower torsional stiffness than a square of the same perimeter	add a diagonal brace or a corner gusset; do not rely on the section alone for torsion
Frame is assembled as a parallelogram	rectangular members can twist into a non-square frame more easily than square	square the frame with a diagonal measurement before tightening the joints

08What to check before you order

Procurement checklist for the 45 x 60 four-slot

Confirm the orientation of every member in the frame: which dimension is vertical, which is horizontal. Put it on the drawing for each member.
Confirm the cut length and tolerance: standard +/-0.5 mm, tighter on CNC.
Confirm the end preparation: square cut, mitre (state the angle), or pre-tapped M14 ends for through-bolting.
Confirm the finish: mill for clad frames, clear or black anodised for exposed service.
If the frame carries multi-directional loads, add diagonal bracing or consider a square section instead.
Confirm the quantity in metres and add offcut allowance. A 6 m bar yields six 950 mm members with 300 mm of waste.

09Terms used on this page

Strong axis: The direction about which the section has its highest second moment of area. On the 45 x 60 it is along the 60 mm depth.
Weak axis: The direction about which the section has its lowest second moment of area. On the 45 x 60 it is along the 45 mm depth.
Directional stiffness: The ratio of strong-axis to weak-axis stiffness. On the 45 x 60 it is about 1.8.
Rectangular section: A profile with different widths in two perpendicular directions, giving different bending stiffness about each axis.
Through-bolt: A long bolt through the Phi12 mm centre bore, running along the 60 mm dimension (the strong axis).
Orientation: The rotational position of a rectangular member in the frame, determining which axis carries the load.

10Questions buyers ask

Can I use this section in either orientation?

Physically yes, but structurally no. The 60 mm depth gives 1.8 times the stiffness of the 45 mm depth. Orienting it the wrong way wastes the extra material and gives only 3 per cent less deflection than a 45 x 45 square.

What is the difference between this and a 45 x 45 square?

The 45 x 60 is rectangular, with 10.5 cm4 about the strong axis and 5.9 cm4 about the weak axis. The 45 x 45 square has 7.7 cm4 about both. The rectangular is stronger in one direction and weaker in the other.

Does it take the same accessories as the 45 x 45?

Yes. All four slots are the standard 45 series 10.2 mm groove with 10 mm mouth, taking M8 slot nuts, hammer head bolts and hinges.

What is the maximum span?

About 1.2 m on the strong axis for 100 N centre load with deflection under 0.5 mm. On the weak axis, about 900 mm. Always orient the strong axis to the load.

Can I get it in 6061?

Yes. 6063-T5 is standard; 6061-T6 is available for structural members. Specify on the drawing if 6061 is needed.

What is the minimum order quantity?

Extrusion is made to order. Small trial lengths from stock offcuts; production runs quoted by the metre or by the tonne.

What we need to quote this section

The section drawing or profile reference, with the rectangular orientation called out.
The cut length for each member and the number of members, with the orientation of each.
The end preparation: square cut, mitre, or pre-tapped M14 ends.
The finish: mill, clear anodised, black anodised, or a specified colour.
The annual or per-order quantity, in metres or in pieces.
Any certification requirement: mill certificate, dimensional report, or first article inspection.

Send those six items and the quotation comes back with the extrusion price, the cutting and machining charge, the finish surcharge and the lead time broken out separately. Browse the full aluminium profile catalogue and the 45 series aluminium profiles range for related sections.

Need this section quoted against your own drawing?

Send the section, the cut list, the member orientations and the finish. We quote extrusion, cutting, machining and anodising as separate lines.

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