- want 1-2 of these setups (low quantity)
- needs to hold/fixture a 20-30kg robotic arm (pretty much a standard cobot), so we'd like something beefy and rigid. This isn't something I'd just clamp down on any work desk
- overall footprint about the size of a twin-sized bed
- we have some specific dimensional requirements dictated by our physical task and also the place for installation, so retrofitting an existing COTS table or test setup isn't necessarily feasible or straightforward
- we want some degree of ability to adjust and modify the positioning of subcomponents, so the t-slot is particularly helpful
Certainly, I could get what I want in terms of parts for a lot less money via 8020/Misumi and piece this together myself with some post-machining, but then I'd also have to download the individual CAD files for the parts (if they're available) and then reconstruct my desired setup in another CAD program. Then, I'd need to build my own BoM and coordinate part ordering from a selection of vendors. None of this is outside of my abilities, but I have a lot of other things to do for the project, and if my company's willing to bite the bullet on the additional cost, Vention solves a lot of problems for me on this front. They also offer (last I checked) some components for actuator/manipulator mounting compatible with their extrusions that other vendors don't sell.
In my opinion, most setups around the size of a standard cardboard moving box can be pieced together pretty simply with a combination of COTS parts, basic hand tools, 3d-printing, and services like Ponoko/Sendcutsend/Oshcut without too much hassle. Anything larger or with higher payloads or with more significant tolerance requirements than our use case I described above should probably be handled by a group/company that has some experience/expertise in building those sort of structures, especially if several of them need to be built.
If anyone else has come across similar modular setups/services, please let me know!