Sliding t-nut all different sizes

[GPowers]

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Why does each manufacture use a different size sliding t-track. Above are three different manufactures, Rockler on the left, Kreg in the middle and Festool on the right. All three t-bolts are used for stops. All three are NOT interchangeable, because they are all different sized.

It sure would be nice is they all used the same size?

 

[tbellemare]

My take on that one, Gary, is that it's engineering related.

I would use a different profile with different strength characteristics and therefore different matching hardware with different strength characteristics depending on its intended use.

Tom

 

[GPowers]

That was my first thought also. But these three are all used for flag stops.  so they are not holding and thin down. Plus the t-slots are usually the same size for the whole manufacturing line, like Kreg. Does not make any difference if it is a Kreg  router table or a table miter fence, or t-track on a band saw Kreg used the same t-bolts.

Same for Rockler, all of the feather boards, stops and t-track that they sell are the larger size t-bolts.

So if it was as you say I would think the manufactures would sell all sizes, not just one size as they do.

So if I use Rocklers t-track and want to use a stop or feather board I need Rocklers stuff. If I have a Kreg fence or router table I need Kreg stops and feather boards. Just seams like your buying everythis twice or thee times. Plus the stops are not cheap, Festool wants around 40 bucks and Kreg about 30 bucks.

 

[peter halle]

I believe you answered your own question.  Rockler want's to sell, Kreg want's to sell,...

Another possibility would be that if a manufacturer came up with the next great idea and wanted to patent it, it would be better if it fit exclusively on it's own track.

Peter

 

[Qwas]

I think Tom hit on the answer, but I wonder if there are patents involved too. One manufacturer wants a hex bolt to fit his track while another thinks a slotted bolt with a round head will do nicely. The tracks will look different.

I have looked into getting some specialized t-track or extrusions made and it is very expensive to get started. I'm sure that is why manufacturers try to stick to what they have already made.

Don't forget Incra and their t-track too. Great stops but again the t-track is slightly different.  [sad]

If you, Gary, were to start selling t-tracks, would you want everyone running to Kreg for their stops instead of yours? So as a marketing point you make yours different so you can sell your stops too.  [smile]

 

[GPowers]

The back lash to having manufacture specif t-trak is You might not want to by an Incra fence system because you already have a Kreg router table and a bunch of Kreg stuff set up on a compound miter saw work station.

So now the uniqueness of Incra product line become cost prohibitive because of all the extras you need to buy and Kreg is cheaper because you can re-use all your existing kreg stops, feather borads etc. there by reducing cost.

 

 

[kosta]

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Why does each manufacture use a different size sliding t-track. Above are three different manufactures, Rockler on the left, Kreg in the middle and Festool on the right. All three t-bolts are used for stops. All three are NOT interchangeable, because they are all different sized.

It sure would be nice is they all used the same size?

...upside down the belt sander for a universal fit.

 

[tbellemare]

I think there's likely something to the marketing aspect and something to the engineering/manufacturing aspect.

From a marketing standpoint, you want to try to sell stuff that works with your "system" and isn't so readily available elsewhere. This is a tricky thing like, Open System technology or, say, Apple philosophy.

If I look at things like the standards for electrical outlets and plugs around the world, it seems pretty obvious that there either wasn't much communication or there was a strong desire to keep a market based on who "won". I seriously doubt that the communication factor is predominant in modern decisions.

From an engineering/manufacturing standpoint, I could see both possibilities being legitimate...

If I were designing something and looked around at some "inferior" products, I wouldn't want to follow suit. Following suit happens a lot and it "dumbs-down" products.

Most of the best engineering minds that I've met want to make everything as close to ideal as marketing/sales will allow. They have to meet a happy compromise. OK, it may not be all happy... Anyway, they agree on some compromise of perfection and marketability.

The engineering may dictate that it's a "better product" with certain upgrades from "the norm". The marketers may take that and run with it, touting the new benefits.

At some juncture, they have to agree and decide to build the product(s). Once that initial decision has been made, several VERY expensive investments have to be made.

At that point, it's tough to retool manufacturing and therefore, it's tough to retool a product line.

Those are my thoughts in general - every situation is different but they're generally very similar, even across continents.

Tom

 

[PaulMarcel]

I'm gonna side with the "now you have to buy our t-tracks/t-nuts" hypothesis.  ...because it's the same hypothesis I use to explain why all 4" DC fittings aren't and why Rockler vs Woodcraft 4" hoses are opposite twist (clockwise / counter-clockwise and so are their respective quick couplers).

Oddly enough, some people complain to me that Festool has everything proprietary because their sizes are metric.  Then I point out that everywhere else in the world they sell, those are the standard.

 

[GPowers]

From a T-Track prespective Rockler does make a Universal T-Track.

Rockler Universal T-track

Still does not solve the problem with all the accessories that you use with other manufactures products. One way is to just buy a bunch of both 5/16" and 1/4" T-bolts and knobs then swap them out on the accessory as needed.