I got my new G0484 wired and powered up this weekend, and in the process discovered something: it has a decidedly non-standard T-slot width.
Typical 'Bridgeport' slot width is, as far as I can tell, 5/8' (0.625 in). The common 1/2' clamping sets come with t-slot nuts which are made to fit 5/8' slots. Because the catalog page for the G0484 lists the slots as half-inch, just like the BP clones, I assumed that the standard kit would work fine. Heh.
80/20 provides T-slot aluminum profiles, or bars, that have channels used to connect other bars and parts — for instance, panels, linear bearings or casters. It is a building system anyone can use to create custom solutions. 80/20 UNIVERSITY. One of the many benefits you'll find with 80/20 profiles and parts is its versatility. An aluminum t-slot table top would probably be the best, but it will cost you a few hundred dollars, depending on the size of your machine. I choose to use the perforated tabletop, because it fitted within my budget and I would still have lots of clamping options. The cutting bed for my machine, is made from an 18mm thick piece of birch plywood.
It turns out that the G0484 slots are actually 0.55 inches wide, which seems like an odd number -- unless you convert to metric and realize that this is extraordinarily close to 14mm. My guess is that the G0484 table is actually machined to metric specs, which end up being close enough to imperial spec that Grizzly can get away with selling some extra-narrow '0.55-inch' t-slot nuts to make up the difference.
The downside, of course, is that I wasn't able to get my vise mounted this weekend due to lack of hold-downs, so after I ran the mill through the break-in cycle I was not able to actually try it out. Running an extended break-in cycle is well worth it, BTW -- a cyclic gear noise that was quite prominent during the first few minutes was practically gone by the time I was done.
In case anyone is wondering, I was unable to locate 14mm t-slot nuts with 1/2-13 threaded holes, at least from the common suppliers. McMaster-Carr has 14mm parts with metric holes, for quick delivery, but at a single-unit price close to what Grizzly charges for their '0.55-inch' t-slots nut 4-packs.
Kind of hard to make your own t-slot nuts before you have a way to get your vise bolted down and aligned.
-AG