T-Track & Clamps

6735 February 20, 2025

Page Contents

Installing the T-Track
The T-Clamp System
Making your own clamps

A T-Track system can be very useful and functional for your CNC bed if you find that it suits your needs. This workholding option comes alongside a wide variety of other options that exist when it comes to mounting materials and setting up jigs for your MK2 CNC which you can read more about here: https://resources.sienci.com/view/lmk2-workholding/

The reason we decided to make this t-track system available is because we designed its profile to use standard ¼-20 hex nuts and hex bolts rather than the more expensive t-nuts and t-bolts that are normally required. This means:

You can easily find and buy ¼-20 bolts for cheap
You can use different lengths of ¼-20 hardware to suit your own clamping or jigging needs

Installing the T-Track

The t-track system is very flexible and can be used however you wish. If you’d like to see a generic approach to installation, you can follow either the write-up or video below. Scott begins the t-track installation starting at about 4 minutes into the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QVgtnZMDw?t=242

This layout minimizes reductions in cutting area and depth, and can be prepared in advance before your machine arrives. It uses a 48”x48”x ¾” MDF sheet, which can be purchased and cut to size at home or at your local hardware store.

Cut a 48” x 48” x ¾” MDF sheet into five pieces of 6” wide planks, and two pieces of 5 ½ ” wide planks.
Lay out the T-tracks and planks on the table, and fasten them down with wood screws. The machine will sit on top of the 5 ½” planks, as the 6” planks are arranged between them. They should be fastened with screws at least 1” in length. Leave about 1” of space between the screws and the ends of the MDF planks.
To ensure your planks are flat against your table, drill counterbore holes in the middle of the 5 ½” planks. You can use the LongMill, a counterboring bit, or a larger drill bit to create the holes, making sure you have removed enough material to recess the screw heads and surface the MDF planks at least 1mm deep. Then fasten them down with wood screws.
Complete the rest of the Table Mounting process as described previously if not yet done: https://resources.sienci.com/view/lmk2-table-mounting/
Surface the MDF planks as you would normally conduct wasteboard surfacing: https://resources.sienci.com/view/lmk2-surfacing-the-wasteboard/
Mount your clamps or clamping system onto your newly installed T-track table, and enjoy!

The T-Clamp System

T-clamps are simple and reliable workholding tools that are used alongside T-Track tables. We’ve come up with T-clamps that work for various metals, plastics and woods, and hold down materials from 0.1″ to 1” thick. These clamps are ideal for holding down small to medium sized pieces of material and also leverage their plastic ends to ensure you’re covered in case you cut a little closer to the clamp than you expected. Inside the package you’ll find:

Steel clamps (x6)
Knobs with inserts (x6)
3D printed end caps (x6)
Hex head machine screws (x12)
Flat washers (x6)
T-track rails (x6)
Wood screws (x100)

To assemble the T-Clamps:

Push the plastic end cap onto the steel clamp – the end with two holes. It should have a slight wiggle but should not be easy to remove.
Fasten a hex bolt onto the other end of the clamp. We recommend the hex head to be facing upwards so that it easily slides into the t-track, but you can change it if desired.
Slide the other hex bolt through the clamp slot, with the hex head facing down. Bring the washer and knob from the top, so that the washer is contained between the clamp body and knob.
Now you can slide the downward facing hex bolt onto the t-track and locate the clamp for mounting material.

To use the T-Clamps:

Slide the hex bolt head through the t-track so that the entire clamp is on the table. You may need to adjust the bolt and knob to have it fit onto the table.
Place your workpiece onto the table.
Move and adjust the clamp to push down onto the workpiece, ensuring that the end cap side of the clamp is lower than the bolt end. Tighten both bolts until snug. Position the clamps so that there is enough space for your cutting job on your workpiece.
Push your material to check if it is secured onto the table. If not, use more t-clamps or other workholding methods.