20 Series · Framing and linear motion
V-Slot 2040 Series is a 20 × 40 mm aluminum extrusion whose V-shaped groove edges run matching wheels, combining a frame member and a linear guide in one profile. APW supplies standard and one-side-closed sections in silver or black anodized finishes. Compare the four variants, then send your cut list and mating-part requirements for a quote.
Check the section and mating parts
Silver and black anodized appearance, shown in an AI-generated studio visualization.
A 2040 V-slot aluminum extrusion combines a structural member with guide surfaces, and its slots accept nuts and fasteners at any position for reconfigurable frames. The wheel, carriage and connection details determine how it works in your assembly.
Mounting a separate linear rail adds drilled holes, alignment work and fasteners. The angled groove edges run matching V-wheels directly, so the same member carries the structure and the motion; OpenBuilds describes this framing-and-motion principle in source [2]. Select the wheel and carriage around the actual section.
V-wheels seat on the angled guide faces and center themselves along the groove, and matching wheel carriages can be adjusted to remove play. Confirm the wheel contact profile, carriage spacing and groove geometry against the selected drawing before ordering motion hardware.
Choose an open section where every face needs slot access, or a one-side-closed section where the assembly calls for a continuous outer face. Plan wheel paths and fixing access around that choice.
These four supply options follow the named sections in HTS product data [1]. The source calls its silver versions “White”; here they are labeled silver anodized to distinguish the finish from white paint.
| Parameter | Standard · Silver | Standard · Black | One side closed · Silver | One side closed · Black |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outside section | 20 × 40 mm | 20 × 40 mm | 20 × 40 mm | 20 × 40 mm |
| Section layout | Standard open section | Standard open section | One side closed | One side closed |
| Material | Aluminum 6063-T5 | Aluminum 6063-T5 | Aluminum 6063-T5 | Aluminum 6063-T5 |
| Slot opening | 6.2 mm | 6.2 mm | 6.2 mm | 6.2 mm |
| V-groove angle | 90° | 90° | 90° | 90° |
| Center-hole diameter | 4.2 mm | 4.2 mm | 4.2 mm | 4.2 mm |
| Published mass per meter [1] | 0.83 kg/m | 0.83 kg/m | 0.90 kg/m | 0.90 kg/m |
| Finish / color | Silver anodized | Black anodized | Silver anodized | Black anodized |
Source [1] checked on October 21, 2026. Mass belongs to the indicated section and is a nominal planning reference, not a load rating or shipping weight. The selected drawing governs tolerances, wall geometry and accessory fit; do not transfer these dimensions to every product sold as 2040.
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AI-generated product visualizations for appearance and section comparison only. They are not photographs of delivered goods or manufacturing drawings. Confirm dimensions, wheel interfaces and finish against the selected drawing and agreed sample.
A static planning example that extends the RFQ cut list above to a net profile mass. It does not calculate strength, deflection or motion-system capacity.
The RFQ example above uses (1000 mm × 6) + (450 mm × 4) = 6000 mm + 1800 mm = 7800 mm = 7.8 m of net profile length.
Source [1] publishes 0.83 kg/m for the standard open sections and 0.90 kg/m for the one-side-closed sections. Each value belongs to its own section layout.
Standard open: 7.8 m × 0.83 kg/m = 6.474 kg, approximately 6.5 kg. One side closed: 7.8 m × 0.90 kg/m = 7.02 kg, about 0.55 kg more for the same cut list.
This estimate covers net profile mass only. It excludes wheels, connectors, packing and cutting losses, and it is not a shipping weight or a cutting-service commitment.
Resolve these points before issuing the final cut list.
Both families share the V-shaped guide-face principle. The 2040 section adds a 40 mm dimension for longer spans and gantry axes; a shared naming pattern does not establish interchangeable nuts, wheels or brackets between sections.
The framing-and-motion approach is used in the applications described by OpenBuilds [2]. Select the member size and assembly around your span, moving mass and required stiffness.
Use the 40 mm dimension along the axis that carries the span. Define the gantry layout, wheel carriages and drive arrangement together before specifying member lengths.
Define the frame envelope, axis travel and wheel carriage together. Specify individual member lengths after resolving the joints.
Use matching wheels and a carriage layout suited to the payload arrangement. State the rail span, support positions and moving mass in the inquiry.
Specify the open or one-side-closed section, finish color, individual cut lengths, piece counts and destination. Include any requested cutting, drilling or tapping with dimensioned drawings so feasibility and tolerances can be quoted. Price, minimum quantity, packing and lead time are confirmed for the order.
Use the complete section and accessory drawings to resolve the connection or motion interface. The specifications above describe this four-variant offer, not every manufacturer's 2040 profile.
State standard open or one side closed, silver or black anodized, and the drawing revision or sample reference you are matching.
Compare the opening and internal cavity with the nut's body, insertion method and seating. Check the bracket tabs and bolt engagement as part of the same joint.
Match the wheel geometry and carriage spacing to the guide faces. Check that connectors, panels and the closed side do not interfere with travel.
A center-hole diameter does not specify a finished thread. Supply the required thread, depth and end preparation on a machining drawing if tapping is needed.
The profile is quoted separately from wheels, plates and fasteners. Naming the mating parts in the inquiry lets the quotation address fit and supply scope instead of assuming compatibility.
State the wheel and carriage models or drawings to be matched. Fit depends on the wheel contact profile, carriage spacing and the selected section, not on the 2040 name.
Provide the plate hole pattern and wheel mounting positions so plate-to-section clearances can be reviewed over the full travel, including the closed face on one-side-closed sections.
List the fastener models or drawings for each joint, including the required bolt engagement. Compatibility is reviewed against the complete section drawing, not a thread size alone.
Name the panels, covers or other accessories that mount to the section, so slot access and the closed-face orientation can be confirmed before cutting.
This fictional example shows the information to send. Replace the quantities, lengths and destination with your project requirements.
Example only, not a stock listing, completed order or machining commitment. Confirm the selected section, cut arrangement, inspection requirements and commercial terms in the quotation.
Send your V-Slot cut listTechnical data reviewed on October 21, 2026. Source [1] documents the four section variants; source [2] explains the framing-and-motion principle. Use the selected drawings to confirm fit. OpenBuilds is a technical reference and is not identified as the manufacturer of these supply options.
V-Slot 2040 Series is a nominal 20 × 40 mm aluminum profile family with V-shaped groove edges that can guide matching V-wheels while also providing slots for frame connections. This page offers standard open and one-side-closed sections in silver or black anodized finishes.
A separate rail adds parts, drilled mounting holes and alignment work on top of the frame. A V-slot profile provides the wheel running surface in the same member that carries the structure, and wheel carriages in this system can be adjusted to remove play. The trade-off is that load capacity and motion accuracy come from the complete wheel and carriage arrangement, not from the profile name. Describe the application and load arrangement when requesting a quote so the proposal can be reviewed.
Both use the same guide-face principle on a 20 mm module. The 2040 section measures 20 × 40 mm, placing more material along one axis for longer spans and gantry axes, while the 2020 section is a compact 20 × 20 mm square. Neither name states a load rating; size the member around your span, moving mass and stiffness requirement, and compare the complete section drawings before sharing accessories between the two.
The 2040 designation identifies the nominal 20 × 40 mm outside size. V-Slot includes angled guide faces for matching wheels. T-Slot describes a connection-slot system and does not by itself establish those wheel-running faces. Compare the complete drawings before substituting one for the other.
APW supplies the four variants compared here: standard open silver, standard open black, one-side-closed silver and one-side-closed black, all anodized 6063-T5. Identify the section layout and color in your quote request; supply terms and delivery timing are confirmed for the order.
For the four sections documented in source [1], the slot opening is 6.2 mm, the V-groove angle is 90° and the center-hole diameter is 4.2 mm. These values are not universal to every 2040 listing. Use the selected drawing to confirm tolerances, cavity geometry and any requested thread preparation.
Fit cannot be established from the 2040 name or bolt thread alone. Compare the nut body and seating, groove cavity, wheel contact shape, carriage spacing and fastener clearances against the selected drawings. State the accessory or wheel model you need to match when requesting a quote.
Choose it when your layout calls for a continuous outer face on one side. That face changes access for slots and wheel-guided motion, so decide its orientation before defining joints, panels and carriage travel. The published mass is 0.90 kg/m for the closed-side variants, compared with 0.83 kg/m for the standard variants [1].
Send individual cut lengths and quantities, the required tolerances, finish color and delivery destination. Add dimensioned hole or thread details for any requested drilling or tapping. Feasibility, supply lengths, minimum quantity and processing terms are confirmed in the quotation; this page does not specify a stocked length range.
There is no single load rating for the series name. Capacity and deflection depend on the exact section, its orientation, span, support arrangement, load direction, joints and any moving assembly. The listed mass per meter is a material-planning value, not a structural or motion-system capacity. Provide the application and load arrangement for engineering review.
Choose the section and color, then share your cut list and interface drawings so the quotation addresses the parts you need.
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