Strut Aluminium Profile 40×60 mm 4-Slot Rectangular T-Slot Extrusion

OEM / ODM Available Free Sample Available ISO 9001:2015 EN 755-9 RoHS REACH

40 x 60 mm four-slot rectangular T-slot strut aluminium profile in 6063-T5 with M6 slots on all four faces and a O 12 mm centre bore tapped M14. A beam section whose stiffness changes by about 85 per cent with orientation, at the same 2.55 kg/m.

Wholesale Price $3.40 - $5.60 / m per m

Material	Aluminium
Alloy Grade	6063-T5
Temper	T5
Section Size	40 x 60 mm
Slot	M6 slot, 8 mm mouth, 4 faces, 30 mm module
Length	6 m stock, cut to drawing to plus or minus 0.5 mm
Tolerance	EN 755-9 / GB/T 6892, wall plus or minus 0.15 mm
Surface	Mill finish / clear anodised / black anodised
MOQ	400
Lead Time	20-30 days after deposit for mill finish
Loading Port	Qingdao / Shanghai
Supply Ability	400 t per month
Payment Terms	T/T 30% deposit + 70% before shipment \| L/C at sight
Trade Terms	FOB \| CIF \| EXW
Certifications	ISO 9001:2015 \| EN 755-9 \| RoHS \| REACH

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Rectangular section · 40 series

A 40 x 60 four-slot strut profile is a rectangular T-slot aluminium extrusion measuring 40 mm by 60 mm with an M6 slot on each of its four faces, a O 12 mm centre bore tapped M14 and a weight of about 2.55 kg/m. It is the member to choose when a frame needs a beam that is stiffer than 40 x 40 without the weight and cost of moving to 60 x 60, and when the beam has to span further than a square section of the same weight allows.

The important property of a rectangular section is that it has a direction. Turned on edge with the 60 mm dimension vertical, the section works at a depth of 60 mm and gives about 24 cm4 of second moment of area. Laid flat with the 40 mm dimension vertical, it works at 40 mm and gives about 13 cm4. It weighs the same either way, so orientation is free stiffness: roughly 85 per cent more, for the cost of deciding which way up to put the beam. At 500 N over a 1500 mm span that is about 2.1 mm of deflection on edge against about 3.9 mm laid flat.

40 x 60 four-slot rectangular section: M6 slots on all four faces on the 40-series module, O 12 mm centre bore tapped M14, 40 mm by 60 mm envelope.

Two directions, two stiffnesses

Bending stiffness depends on how far the material sits from the neutral axis, so for a rectangular section the depth in the direction of the load does most of the work. Doubling the depth multiplies stiffness by roughly eight; doubling the width only doubles it. That is why a 40 x 60 turned the right way outperforms a 60 x 40 turned the wrong way by a wide margin, even though they are the same piece of aluminium.

The practical consequence is that the first decision on a 40 x 60 beam is not the section size, the wall thickness or the alloy. It is which dimension stands up.

Orientation	Depth against the load	Moment of inertia	Where it belongs
60 mm vertical (on edge)	60 mm	approx. 24 cm4	Cross beams, bench rails, longer spans
40 mm vertical (laid flat)	40 mm	approx. 13 cm4	Compact posts, shallow frames, tight gaps
40 x 40 four slot, reference	40 mm	approx. 9.2 cm4	General frame member
60 x 60 four slot, reference	60 mm	approx. 42 cm4	Column and heavy beam

Orientation rule of thumb: if the member spans more than about 800 mm and carries anything at all, stand the 60 mm dimension up. Only lay it flat when the design needs a shallow member, or when the 40 mm dimension is the one that has to fit into a gap.

Which way up

On edge: the beam caseWith the 60 mm dimension vertical the section gives about 24 cm4, which is more than twice a 40 x 40 for about 46 per cent more weight. This is the orientation for a cross beam under a bench, a machine base rail, a conveyor side member or any member that has to stay straight across a span.

Laid flat: the compact caseWith the 40 mm dimension vertical the section gives about 13 cm4 in a member only 40 mm tall. That is useful where the frame has a height budget, or where the beam runs behind a panel and has to sit in a narrow space. The 60 mm face is then the one doing the mounting, which gives two fixing lines rather than one.

Why the section is rectangular at allA rectangular section exists to let the designer buy stiffness in one direction without paying for it in the other. A 60 x 60 would be stiffer in both directions and heavier; a 40 x 40 would be lighter and weaker in both. The 40 x 60 is the compromise, and it only pays off if the orientation is chosen deliberately.

Mixing 40 x 60 beams with 40 x 40 columns

The most common way to use this section is not as a whole frame but as the beams in a frame built from 40 x 40 columns. The reason is economic: 40 x 40 has the largest accessory range of any section and is the cheapest member per metre, so it makes a good column, while the 40 x 60 takes the span. Because both sections sit on the same 30 mm slot module, the T-slot nuts, angle brackets and joining plates interchange without adaptors.

Design the column in 40 x 40 and check it In a mixed frame the columns are usually the limiting member, because they are the smaller section and they also carry the bending from any horizontal load. Check the column, not just the beam, before reducing it to 40 x 40 to save money.
Watch the end face geometry A 40 x 60 beam presents a 60 mm tall end face against a 40 mm column face. A plate sized for the beam will overhang the column, so specify the plate to match the column and let the beam slot carry the connection, or use a plate that spans both and accept the overhang deliberately.
Keep one slot module across the frame Both sections use the 30 mm module, so set the frame out on that module and the beam slots will line up with the column slots. Mixing modules mid-frame is the usual cause of a hole that has to be drilled on site.
Decide the beam orientation before the cut list The cut list does not change with orientation, but the machining does: which face is drilled, which end is tapped and where the counterbores go all depend on which way up the beam sits. Fix the orientation on the drawing first.
Plan the finish as one batch Mixed frames are usually visible, and a 40 x 60 beam next to 40 x 40 columns shows any colour difference between anodising batches. Anodise the whole frame order together.

Fixing and finishing

The four M6 slots take the full 40-series accessory range. Corner and tee joints use an angle bracket or a butt connector; a heavily loaded beam-to-column joint is normally made with a joining plate on the beam face plus a through-bolt in the M14 centre bore. Feet are a base plate or a levelling foot on the column, and panels are held with panel mounting elements rather than drilled through the beam.

Where the beam is visible, the slots are closed with cover strip. Where the beam is a structural edge, leave the slots open so the frame can be extended later. Both are supplied mill finish, clear anodised or black anodised, cut to plus or minus 0.5 mm and deburred.

Mixed frames in service: 40 x 60 beams on edge carrying the span, with 40 x 40 columns and the same 40-series connectors throughout.

Frequently asked questions

How much stiffer is a 40 x 60 on edge than laid flat?

About 85 per cent. The second moment of area is roughly 24 cm4 with the 60 mm dimension vertical and about 13 cm4 with the 40 mm dimension vertical, at the same 2.55 kg/m. At 500 N over 1500 mm that is about 2.1 mm against about 3.9 mm of deflection.

Can I use 40 x 60 as a column?

You can, but a square section is usually better value for a column because a column needs similar stiffness in both directions. The usual arrangement is 40 x 60 beams on edge with 40 x 40 or 60 x 60 columns.

Do 40 x 60 and 40 x 40 share the same accessories?

Yes. Both sit on the same 30 mm slot module and use the same M6 slot geometry, so T-slot nuts, brackets, joining plates, feet and panel fixings interchange. Only the end face dimensions differ, which affects the plate you choose at a joint.

What is the maximum span for a 40 x 60 beam?

It depends on the load and the deflection you will accept. As a guide, on edge it is comfortable to about 1.8 m for a light load and about 1.2 m for a working load. Send the load and span and we will confirm the deflection rather than quoting a section that looks right.

Can you supply it cut, machined and anodised to a drawing?

Yes. We cut to plus or minus 0.5 mm, deburr, tap the M14 centre bore and slot ends, drill and counterbore to drawing, and supply mill, clear anodised or black anodised. Send DWG, DXF, STEP or PDF with the orientation marked.

Send the span and the load, get an orientation check and a price

Tell us the span, the load and which way up the beam can sit in your layout. We will confirm the deflection on edge and flat, check the columns in a mixed frame, then quote the section, the machining and FOB pricing with the beams cut, deburred and bagged by assembly.

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