diff --git a/docs/api/linkml/index.md b/docs/api/linkml/index.md
index 7034541..98849be 100644
--- a/docs/api/linkml/index.md
+++ b/docs/api/linkml/index.md
@@ -8,3 +8,9 @@ pydanticgen
 template
 ```
 
+```{toctree}
+:caption: Experimental Formats
+
+slotarray
+```
+
diff --git a/docs/api/linkml/slotarray.md b/docs/api/linkml/slotarray.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2fe1b71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/api/linkml/slotarray.md
@@ -0,0 +1,361 @@
+# Slot Arrays
+
+Will explain further in the morning :)
+
+See: 
+- [https://github.com/linkml/linkml-arrays/issues/7#issuecomment-1925999203](https://github.com/linkml/linkml-arrays/issues/7#issuecomment-1925999203)
+- [https://github.com/linkml/linkml-arrays/issues/7#issuecomment-1926195529](https://github.com/linkml/linkml-arrays/issues/7#issuecomment-1926195529)
+
+## Working Examples
+
+`````{tab-set}
+````{tab-item} YAML
+```yaml
+ExactDimension:
+  description: exact anonymous dimensions
+  attributes:
+    temp:
+      range: float
+      required: true
+      unit:
+        ucum_code: K
+      array:
+        dimensions: 3
+```
+````
+
+````{tab-item} Pydantic
+```python
+class ExactDimension(ConfiguredBaseModel):
+    """
+    exact anonymous dimensions
+    """
+    linkml_meta: ClassVar[LinkML_Meta] = Field(LinkML_Meta(), frozen=True)
+    temp: NDArray[Shape[*, *, *], Float] = Field(...)
+```
+````
+`````
+
+`````{tab-set}
+````{tab-item} YAML
+```yaml
+ExactNamedDimension:
+  description: Exact named dimensions
+  attributes:
+    temp:
+      range: float
+      required: true
+      unit:
+        ucum_code: K
+      array:
+        axes:
+          x:
+            rank: 0
+            alias: latitude
+          y:
+            rank: 1
+            alias: longitude
+          t:
+            rank: 2
+            alias: time
+```
+````
+````{tab-item} Pydantic
+```python
+class ExactNamedDimension(ConfiguredBaseModel):
+    """
+    Exact named dimensions
+    """
+    linkml_meta: ClassVar[LinkML_Meta] = Field(LinkML_Meta(), frozen=True)
+    temp: NDArray[Shape[* latitude, * longitude, * time], Float] = Field(...)
+```    
+````
+`````
+
+`````{tab-set}
+````{tab-item} YAML
+```yaml
+MinDimensions:
+  description: Minimum anonymous dimensions
+  attributes:
+    temp:
+      range: float
+      required: true
+      unit:
+        ucum_code: K
+      array:
+        dimensions:
+          min: 3
+```
+````
+````{tab-item} Pydantic
+```python
+class MinDimensions(ConfiguredBaseModel):
+    """
+    Minimum anonymous dimensions
+    """
+    linkml_meta: ClassVar[LinkML_Meta] = Field(LinkML_Meta(), frozen=True)
+    temp: NDArray[Shape[*, *, *, ...], Float] = Field(...)
+```  
+````
+`````
+
+`````{tab-set}
+````{tab-item} YAML
+```yaml
+MaxDimensions:
+  description: Maximum anonymous dimensions
+  attributes:
+    temp:
+      range: float
+      required: true
+      unit:
+        ucum_code: K
+      array:
+        dimensions:
+          max: 3
+```
+````
+````{tab-item} Pydantic
+```python
+class MaxDimensions(ConfiguredBaseModel):
+    """
+    Maximum anonymous dimensions
+    """
+    linkml_meta: ClassVar[LinkML_Meta] = Field(LinkML_Meta(), frozen=True)
+    temp: Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["*"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *, *"], Float]
+    ] = Field(...)
+```    
+````
+`````
+
+`````{tab-set}
+````{tab-item} YAML
+```yaml
+RangeDimensions:
+  description: Range of anonymous dimensions
+  attributes:
+    temp:
+      range: float
+      required: true
+      unit:
+        ucum_code: K
+      array:
+        dimensions:
+          min: 2
+          max: 5
+```
+````
+````{tab-item} Pydantic
+```python
+class RangeDimensions(ConfiguredBaseModel):
+    """
+    Range of anonymous dimensions
+    """
+    linkml_meta: ClassVar[LinkML_Meta] = Field(LinkML_Meta(), frozen=True)
+    temp: Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *, *"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *, *, *"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *, *, *, *"], Float]
+    ] = Field(...)
+```   
+````
+`````
+
+`````{tab-set}
+````{tab-item} YAML
+```yaml
+ExactCardinality:
+  description: An axis with a specified cardinality
+  attributes:
+    temp:
+      range: float
+      required: true
+      unit:
+        ucum_code: K
+      array:
+        axes:
+          x:
+            rank: 0
+            cardinality: 3
+```
+````
+````{tab-item} Pydantic
+```python
+class ExactCardinality(ConfiguredBaseModel):
+    """
+    An axis with a specified cardinality
+    """
+    linkml_meta: ClassVar[LinkML_Meta] = Field(LinkML_Meta(), frozen=True)
+    temp: NDArray[Shape["3 x"], Float] = Field(...)
+```    
+````
+`````
+
+`````{tab-set}
+````{tab-item} YAML
+```yaml
+MaxCardinality:
+  description: An axis with a maximum cardinality
+  attributes:
+    temp:
+      range: float
+      required: true
+      unit:
+        ucum_code: K
+      array:
+        axes:
+          x:
+            rank: 0
+            cardinality:
+              max: 3
+```
+````
+````{tab-item} Pydantic
+```python
+class MaxCardinality(ConfiguredBaseModel):
+    """
+    An axis with a maximum cardinality
+    """
+    linkml_meta: ClassVar[LinkML_Meta] = Field(LinkML_Meta(), frozen=True)
+    temp: Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["1 x"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["2 x"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["3 x"], Float]
+    ] = Field(...)
+```    
+````
+`````
+
+`````{tab-set}
+````{tab-item} YAML
+```yaml
+RangeCardinality:
+  description: An axis with a min and maximum cardinality
+  attributes:
+    temp:
+      range: float
+      required: true
+      unit:
+        ucum_code: K
+      array:
+        axes:
+          x:
+            rank: 0
+            cardinality:
+              min: 2
+              max: 4
+```
+````
+````{tab-item} Pydantic
+```python
+class RangeCardinality(ConfiguredBaseModel):
+    """
+    An axis with a min and maximum cardinality
+    """
+    linkml_meta: ClassVar[LinkML_Meta] = Field(LinkML_Meta(), frozen=True)
+    temp: Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["2 x"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["3 x"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["4 x"], Float]
+    ] = Field(...)
+```    
+````
+`````
+
+`````{tab-set}
+````{tab-item} YAML
+```yaml
+ExclusiveAxes:
+  description: Two mutually exclusive definitions of an axis that define its different forms
+  attributes:
+    temp:
+      range: float
+      required: true
+      unit:
+        ucum_code: K
+      array:
+        axes:
+          x:
+            rank: 0
+          y:
+            rank: 1
+          rgb:
+            rank: 2
+            cardinality: 3
+          rgba:
+            rank: 2
+            cardinality: 4
+```
+````
+````{tab-item} Pydantic
+```python
+class ExclusiveAxes(ConfiguredBaseModel):
+    """
+    Two mutually exclusive definitions of an axis that define its different forms
+    """
+    linkml_meta: ClassVar[LinkML_Meta] = Field(LinkML_Meta(), frozen=True)
+    temp: Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["* x, * y, 3 rgb"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["* x, * y, 4 rgba"], Float]
+    ] = Field(...)
+```
+````
+`````
+
+## TODO
+
+Any shape array
+
+```yaml
+classes:
+  TemperatureDataset:
+    attributes:
+      temperatures_in_K:
+        range: float
+        multivalued: true
+        required: true
+        array:
+```
+
+One specified, named dimension, and any number of other dimensions
+
+```yaml
+array:
+  dimensions:
+    min: 1
+    # optionally, to be explicit:
+    max: null
+  axes:
+    x:
+      rank: 0
+      alias: latitude_in_deg
+```
+
+Two required dimensions and two optional dimensions that will generate
+a union of the combinatoric product of the optional dimensions.
+Rank must be unspecified in optional dimensions
+
+```yaml
+array:
+  axes:
+    x:
+      rank: 0
+    y:
+      rank: 1
+    z:
+      cardinality: 3
+      required: false
+    theta:
+      cardinality: 4
+      required: false
+```
+
+```{eval-rst}
+.. automodule:: numpydantic.linkml.slotarray
+    :members:
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/api/ndarray.md b/docs/api/ndarray.md
index 2cd0e2f..4fe336b 100644
--- a/docs/api/ndarray.md
+++ b/docs/api/ndarray.md
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 ```{eval-rst}
 .. automodule:: numpydantic.ndarray
     :members:
-```
\ No newline at end of file
+``` 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/numpydantic/linkml/ndarraygen.py b/numpydantic/linkml/ndarraygen.py
index 0d7e590..07764a9 100644
--- a/numpydantic/linkml/ndarraygen.py
+++ b/numpydantic/linkml/ndarraygen.py
@@ -4,24 +4,35 @@ Isolated generator for array classes
 
 import warnings
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from typing import Literal
 
 from linkml_runtime.linkml_model import ClassDefinition, SlotDefinition
 
 from numpydantic.maps import flat_to_nptyping
 
+SourceType = ClassDefinition | SlotDefinition
+
+ArrayDefinitionType = Literal[
+    "SLOT",  # defined by independent slots
+    "CLASS_SLOT",  # defined by a class used as a slot's range
+    "CLASS",  # defined by a whole class
+]
+
 
 class ArrayFormat(ABC):
     """
     Metaclass for different LinkML array source formats
     """
 
+    DEFINITION_TYPE: ArrayDefinitionType = None
+
     @classmethod
-    def is_array(cls, cls_: ClassDefinition) -> bool:
+    def is_array(cls, cls_: SourceType) -> bool:
         """Check whether a given class matches one of our subclasses definitions"""
         return any([subcls.check(cls_) for subcls in cls.__subclasses__()])
 
     @classmethod
-    def get(cls, cls_: ClassDefinition) -> type["ArrayFormat"]:
+    def get(cls, cls_: SourceType) -> type["ArrayFormat"]:
         """Get matching ArrayFormat subclass"""
         for subcls in cls.__subclasses__():
             if subcls.check(cls_):
@@ -29,12 +40,12 @@ class ArrayFormat(ABC):
 
     @classmethod
     @abstractmethod
-    def check(cls, cls_: ClassDefinition) -> bool:
+    def check(cls, cls_: SourceType) -> bool:
         """Method for array format subclasses to check if they match a given source class"""
 
     @classmethod
     @abstractmethod
-    def make(cls, cls_: ClassDefinition) -> str:
+    def make(cls, cls_: SourceType) -> str:
         """
         Make an annotation string from a given array format source class
         """
@@ -43,15 +54,40 @@ class ArrayFormat(ABC):
 class LinkMLNDArray(ArrayFormat):
     """
     Tentative linkml-arrays style NDArray
+
+    Examples:
+
+        .. code-block:: yaml
+
+            TemperatureMatrix:
+              description: A 3D array of temperatures
+              implements:
+                - linkml:NDArray
+                - linkml:RowOrderedArray
+              attributes:
+                values:
+                  range: float
+                  multivalued: true
+                  implements:
+                    - linkml:elements
+                  required: true
+                  unit:
+                    ucum_code: K
+              annotations:
+                dimensions: 3
+
+
+    References:
+        - https://github.com/linkml/linkml-model/blob/main/tests/input/examples/schema_definition-array-2.yaml
     """
 
     @classmethod
-    def check(cls, cls_: ClassDefinition) -> bool:
+    def check(cls, cls_: SourceType) -> bool:
         """Check if linkml:NDArray in implements"""
         return "linkml:NDArray" in cls_.implements
 
     @classmethod
-    def make(cls, cls_: ClassDefinition) -> str:
+    def make(cls, cls_: SourceType) -> str:
         """Make NDArray"""
         raise NotImplementedError("Havent implemented NDArrays yet!")
 
@@ -62,12 +98,12 @@ class LinkMLDataArray(ArrayFormat):
     """
 
     @classmethod
-    def check(cls, cls_: ClassDefinition) -> bool:
+    def check(cls, cls_: SourceType) -> bool:
         """Check if linkml:DataArray in implements"""
         return "linkml:DataArray" in cls_.implements
 
     @classmethod
-    def make(cls, cls_: ClassDefinition) -> str:
+    def make(cls, cls_: SourceType) -> str:
         """Make DataArray"""
         raise NotImplementedError("Havent generated DataArray types yet!")
 
diff --git a/numpydantic/linkml/pydanticgen.py b/numpydantic/linkml/pydanticgen.py
index ec24d80..fd8578f 100644
--- a/numpydantic/linkml/pydanticgen.py
+++ b/numpydantic/linkml/pydanticgen.py
@@ -468,6 +468,19 @@ class PydanticGenerator(BasePydanticGenerator):
 
         return slot_value
 
+    def generate_python_range(
+        self, slot_range, slot_def: SlotDefinition, class_def: ClassDefinition
+    ) -> str:
+        """
+        Overridden to handle generating slot-only arrays
+        """
+        if (
+            ArrayFormat.is_array(slot_def)
+            and ArrayFormat.get(slot_def).DEFINITION_TYPE == "SLOT"
+        ):
+            return ArrayFormat.get(slot_def).make(slot_def)
+        return super().generate_python_range(slot_range, slot_def, class_def)
+
     def serialize(self) -> str:
         """Generate LinkML models from schema!"""
         predefined_slot_values = {}
@@ -603,7 +616,7 @@ class PydanticGenerator(BasePydanticGenerator):
             underscore=underscore,
             enums=enums,
             predefined_slot_values=predefined_slot_values,
-            allow_extra=self.allow_extra,
+            # allow_extra=self.allow_extra,
             metamodel_version=self.schema.metamodel_version,
             version=self.schema.version,
             class_isa_plus_mixins=self.get_class_isa_plus_mixins(sorted_classes),
diff --git a/numpydantic/linkml/slotarray.py b/numpydantic/linkml/slotarray.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b1f0e91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/numpydantic/linkml/slotarray.py
@@ -0,0 +1,357 @@
+"""
+Experimental Slot-only NDArray specification
+
+References:
+    - https://github.com/linkml/linkml-arrays/issues/7#issuecomment-1925999203
+    - https://github.com/linkml/linkml-arrays/issues/7#issuecomment-1926195529
+
+"""
+import itertools
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field, make_dataclass
+from typing import Optional
+
+import jsonasobj2
+from linkml_runtime.linkml_model import SlotDefinition as SlotDefinition_Base
+
+from numpydantic.linkml import ArrayFormat
+from numpydantic.maps import flat_to_nptyping
+
+
+@dataclass
+class RangeAttr:
+    min: Optional[int] = None
+    max: Optional[int] = None
+
+
+@dataclass
+class DimensionsAttr(RangeAttr):
+    """Specification for number of axes in array"""
+
+    pass
+
+
+@dataclass
+class CardinalityAttr(RangeAttr):
+    """Specification for size of a given axis"""
+
+    pass
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Axis:
+    """Specification of individual axis within an NDArray"""
+
+    rank: Optional[int] = None
+    alias: Optional[str] = None
+    cardinality: Optional[int | CardinalityAttr] = None
+    required: bool = True
+
+
+@dataclass
+class ArraySlot:
+    """Specification of an NDArray as a slot"""
+
+    axes: Optional[dict[str, Axis]] = None
+    dimensions: Optional[int | DimensionsAttr] = None
+
+
+def patch_linkml() -> type["SlotDefinition_Base"]:
+    """
+    Monkeypatch the LinkML runtime models to add the new properties to define a slotarray :)
+    """
+    import linkml_runtime
+    from linkml_runtime.linkml_model.meta import SlotDefinition
+    from linkml_runtime.utils import schemaview
+
+    # make the new SlotDefinition...
+    newslot = make_dataclass(
+        "SlotDefinition",
+        [("array", Optional[ArraySlot], field(default=None))],
+        bases=(SlotDefinition,),
+    )
+    linkml_runtime.linkml_model.meta.SlotDefinition = newslot
+    linkml_runtime.linkml_model.SlotDefinition = newslot
+    schemaview.SlotDefinition = newslot
+    return newslot
+
+
+# janky local patching until we get metamodel amended
+SlotDefinition = patch_linkml()
+
+
+class SlotArrayTemplate:
+    def __init__(self, slot: SlotDefinition):
+        self.slot = slot
+
+    def make(self) -> str:
+        array: ArraySlot = self.slot.array
+
+        shape = self._handle_shape(array)
+        dtype = self._handle_dtype(self.slot)
+        if isinstance(shape, list):
+            shape = [f'NDArray[Shape["{a_shape}"], {dtype}]' for a_shape in shape]
+            union = "Union[\n" + " " * 8
+            union += (",\n" + " " * 8).join(shape)
+            union += "\n" + " " * 4 + "]"
+            template = union
+        else:
+            template = f'NDArray[Shape["{shape}"], {dtype}]'
+        return template
+
+    def _handle_shape(self, array: ArraySlot) -> str | list[str]:
+        # If we have no axes or dimensions, any shape array
+        if (
+            getattr(array, "axes", None) is None
+            and getattr(array, "dimensions", None) is None
+        ):
+            return "*, ..."
+        elif getattr(array, "axes", None) is None:
+            return self._shape_from_dimension(array)
+        elif getattr(array, "dimensions", None) is None:
+            return self._shape_from_axes(array)
+        else:
+            raise NotImplementedError("Joint axis and dimension arrays")
+
+    def _shape_from_dimension(self, array: ArraySlot):
+        # just dimensions
+        if isinstance(array.dimensions, int):
+            # exact number of unnamed dimensions
+            return ", ".join(["*"] * array.dimensions)
+        elif (
+            getattr(array.dimensions, "min", None) is None
+            and getattr(array.dimensions, "max", None) is None
+        ):
+            return "*, ..."
+        elif (
+            getattr(array.dimensions, "min", None) is not None
+            and getattr(array.dimensions, "max", None) is None
+        ):
+            return ", ".join(["*"] * array.dimensions.min) + ", ..."
+        else:
+            min = (
+                1
+                if getattr(array.dimensions, "min", None) is None
+                else array.dimensions.min
+            )
+            return [", ".join(["*"] * i) for i in range(min, array.dimensions.max + 1)]
+
+    def _shape_from_axes(self, array: ArraySlot):
+        # just axes!
+        # FIXME: what in the hell is the matter with jsonasobj2 lmao
+        axes = {
+            name: Axis(**axis) for name, axis in jsonasobj2.as_dict(array.axes).items()
+        }
+        indices = [
+            ax.rank for ax in axes.values() if getattr(ax, "rank", None) is not None
+        ]
+        # TODO: Sort by rank first
+
+        if len(indices) == len(axes) and len(set(indices)) < len(axes):
+            # mutually exclusive axes
+            # FIXME: it's getting to be the braindead hours, this is a total nightmare of a way to check dupe idx
+            # for the love of god why. do it better lol. get some food and go to bed. very last thing
+            ax_defs = {}
+            for name, ax in axes.items():
+                if ax.rank not in ax_defs:
+                    ax_defs[ax.rank] = []
+                ax_defs[ax.rank].append(self._make_axis(name, ax))
+            ax_defs = list(ax_defs.values())
+        elif len(indices) < len(axes):
+            raise NotImplementedError("Optional Axes")
+        else:
+            # independently defined axes, these are our friends :)
+            ax_defs = [self._make_axis(name, ax) for name, ax in axes.items()]
+
+        if all([isinstance(ax_def, str) for ax_def in ax_defs]):
+            # no expansion needed
+            return ", ".join(ax_defs)
+        # expand such that for each axis, we get all possible combinations
+        ax_defs = [
+            list(ax_def) if not isinstance(ax_def, list) else ax_def
+            for ax_def in ax_defs
+        ]
+        return [", ".join(inner_def) for inner_def in itertools.product(*ax_defs)]
+
+    def _make_axis(self, name: str, ax: Axis) -> str | list[str]:
+        if getattr(ax, "alias", None):
+            name = ax.alias
+        name = name.lower()
+
+        if getattr(ax, "rank", None) is not None and not ax.required:
+            # FIXME: Do this in class validation
+            raise ValueError("Optional axes cannot be given explicit ranks")
+
+        if getattr(ax, "cardinality", None) is None:
+            return f"* {name}"
+        elif isinstance(ax.cardinality, int):
+            return f"{ax.cardinality} {name}"
+        else:
+            # FIXME: i remember why i hate dataclasses and love pydantic now lol - dataclass creation is not recursive
+            min = ax.cardinality.get("min", 1)
+            max = ax.cardinality.get("max", None)
+            if max is None:
+                raise ValueError("Cannot set minimum cardinality without maximum")
+            return [f"{i} {name}" for i in range(min, max + 1)]
+
+    def _handle_dtype(self, slot: SlotDefinition) -> str:
+        # TODO: handle any_of, multiple typed arrays
+        return flat_to_nptyping[slot.range]
+
+
+class SlotNDArray(ArrayFormat):
+    """
+    Prospective array format specified as a slot/attribute alone
+
+    Examples:
+        Any shape array
+
+        .. code-block:: yaml
+
+            classes:
+              TemperatureDataset:
+                attributes:
+                  temperatures_in_K:
+                    range: float
+                    multivalued: true
+                    required: true
+                    array:
+
+
+        Exactly 3 unspecified axes/dimensions
+
+        .. code-block:: yaml
+
+            classes:
+              TemperatureDataset:
+                attributes:
+                  temperatures_in_K:
+                    range: float
+                    multivalued: true
+                    required: true
+                    unit:
+                      ucum_code: K
+                    array:
+                      dimensions: 3
+
+        Exactly 3 named dimensions
+
+        .. code-block:: yaml
+
+            array:
+              axes:
+                x:
+                  rank: 0
+                  alias: latitude_in_deg
+                y:
+                  rank: 1
+                  alias: longitude_in_deg
+                t:
+                  rank: 2
+                  alias: time_in_d
+
+        At least three, at most 5, and between 3 and 5 anonymous dimensions
+
+        .. code-block:: yaml
+
+            array:
+              dimensions:
+                min: 3
+
+              # or
+              dimensions:
+                max: 5
+
+              # or
+              dimensions:
+                min: 3
+                max: 5
+
+        One specified, named dimension, and any number of other dimensions
+
+        .. code-block:: yaml
+
+            array:
+              dimensions:
+                min: 1
+                # optionally, to be explicit:
+                max: null
+              axes:
+                x:
+                  rank: 0
+                  alias: latitude_in_deg
+
+        Axes with specified cardinality
+
+        .. code-block:: yaml
+
+            array:
+              axes:
+                x:
+                  rank: 0
+                  cardinality: 3
+                y:
+                  rank: 1
+                  cardinality:
+                    min: 2
+                z:
+                  rank: 2
+                  cardinality:
+                    min: 3
+                    max: 5
+
+        Two required dimensions and two optional dimensions that will generate
+        a union of the combinatoric product of the optional dimensions.
+        Rank must be unspecified in optional dimensions
+
+        .. code-block:: yaml
+
+            array:
+              axes:
+                x:
+                  rank: 0
+                y:
+                  rank: 1
+                z:
+                  cardinality: 3
+                  required: false
+                theta:
+                  cardinality: 4
+                  required: false
+
+
+        Two required dimensions with a third dimension with two mutually exclusive forms
+        as indicated by their equal rank
+
+        .. code-block:: yaml
+
+            array:
+              axes:
+                x:
+                  rank: 0
+                y:
+                  rank: 1
+                rgb:
+                  rank: 2
+                  cardinality: 3
+                rgba:
+                  rank: 2
+                  cardinality: 4
+
+
+
+    References:
+        - https://github.com/linkml/linkml-arrays/issues/7#issuecomment-1925999203
+        - https://github.com/linkml/linkml-arrays/issues/7#issuecomment-1926195529
+    """
+
+    DEFINITION_TYPE = "SLOT"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def check(cls, SlotDefinition) -> bool:
+        if getattr(SlotDefinition, "array", None) is not None:
+            return True
+        return False
+
+    @classmethod
+    def make(cls, cls_: SlotDefinition) -> str:
+        return SlotArrayTemplate(cls_).make()
diff --git a/numpydantic/ndarray.py b/numpydantic/ndarray.py
index ffd3733..3c41e73 100644
--- a/numpydantic/ndarray.py
+++ b/numpydantic/ndarray.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Arrays larger than this size (in bytes) will be compressed and b64 encoded when
 serializing to JSON.
 """
 
-ARRAY_TYPES = np.ndarray | DaskArray | NDArrayProxy
+ARRAY_TYPES = Union[np.ndarray, DaskArray, NDArrayProxy]
 
 
 def list_of_lists_schema(shape: Shape, array_type_handler: dict) -> ListSchema:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 04ff4cb..0e6854a 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ select = [
 
 ]
 ignore = [
-    "ANN101", "ANN102"
+    "ANN101", "ANN102", "UP007"
 ]
 
 fixable = ["ALL"]
diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/tests/data/slotarray.yaml b/tests/data/slotarray.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ed9719
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/slotarray.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+id: https://example.org/arrays
+name: arrays-temperature-example
+title: Array Temperature Example
+description: |-
+  Example implementation of a slot-only NDArray
+license: MIT
+
+prefixes:
+  linkml: https://w3id.org/linkml/
+  wgs84: http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#
+  example: https://example.org/
+
+default_prefix: example
+
+imports:
+  - linkml:types
+
+classes:
+  ExactDimension:
+    description: exact anonymous dimensions
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          dimensions: 3
+
+  ExactNamedDimension:
+    description: Exact named dimensions
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          axes:
+            x:
+              rank: 0
+              alias: latitude
+            y:
+              rank: 1
+              alias: longitude
+            t:
+              rank: 2
+              alias: time
+
+  MinDimensions:
+    description: Minimum anonymous dimensions
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          dimensions:
+            min: 3
+
+  MaxDimensions:
+    description: Maximum anonymous dimensions
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          dimensions:
+            max: 3
+
+  RangeDimensions:
+    description: Range of anonymous dimensions
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          dimensions:
+            min: 2
+            max: 5
+
+  MixedNamedUnnamed:
+    description: One specified, named dimension, and any number of other dimensions
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          dimensions:
+            min: 1
+            # optionally, to be explicit:
+            max: null
+          axes:
+            x:
+              rank: 0
+              alias: latitude_in_deg
+
+  ExactCardinality:
+    description: An axis with a specified cardinality
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          axes:
+            x:
+              rank: 0
+              cardinality: 3
+
+  MinCardinality:
+    description: An axis with a minimum cardinality
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          axes:
+            x:
+              rank: 0
+              cardinality:
+                min: 3
+
+  MaxCardinality:
+    description: An axis with a maximum cardinality
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          axes:
+            x:
+              rank: 0
+              cardinality:
+                max: 3
+
+  RangeCardinality:
+    description: An axis with a min and maximum cardinality
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          axes:
+            x:
+              rank: 0
+              cardinality:
+                min: 2
+                max: 4
+
+  OptionalAxes:
+    description: Two optional axes that can be present in any combination
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          axes:
+            x:
+              rank: 0
+            y:
+              rank: 1
+            z:
+              cardinality: 3
+              required: false
+            theta:
+              cardinality: 4
+              required: false
+
+  ExclusiveAxes:
+    description: Two mutually exclusive definitions of an axis that define its different forms
+    attributes:
+      temp:
+        range: float
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+        array:
+          axes:
+            x:
+              rank: 0
+            y:
+              rank: 1
+            rgb:
+              rank: 2
+              cardinality: 3
+            rgba:
+              rank: 2
+              cardinality: 4
+
diff --git a/tests/data/temperature_model.yaml b/tests/data/temperature_model.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..796ced4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/temperature_model.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+id: https://example.org/arrays
+name: arrays-temperature-example
+title: Array Temperature Example
+description: |-
+  from https://github.com/linkml/linkml-arrays/blob/ee2a063dbc6302c67506a2227ea9a5cc048f7584/tests/input/temperature_dataset.yaml
+license: MIT
+
+prefixes:
+  linkml: https://w3id.org/linkml/
+  wgs84: http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#
+  example: https://example.org/
+
+default_prefix: example
+
+imports:
+  - linkml:types
+
+classes:
+
+  TemperatureDataset:
+    tree_root: true
+    implements:
+      - linkml:DataArray
+    attributes:
+      name:
+        identifier: true
+        range: string
+      latitude_in_deg:
+        implements:
+          - linkml:axis
+        range: LatitudeSeries
+        required: true
+        annotations:
+          axis_index: 0
+      longitude_in_deg:
+        implements:
+          - linkml:axis
+        range: LongitudeSeries
+        required: true
+        annotations:
+          axis_index: 1
+      time_in_d:
+        implements:
+          - linkml:axis
+        range: DaySeries
+        required: true
+        annotations:
+          axis_index: 2
+      temperatures_in_K:
+        implements:
+          - linkml:array
+        range: TemperatureMatrix
+        required: true
+
+  TemperatureMatrix:
+    description: A 3D array of temperatures
+    implements:
+      - linkml:NDArray
+      - linkml:RowOrderedArray
+    attributes:
+      values:
+        range: float
+        multivalued: true
+        implements:
+          - linkml:elements
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: K
+    annotations:
+      dimensions: 3
+
+  LatitudeSeries:
+    description: A series whose values represent latitude
+    implements:
+      - linkml:NDArray
+    attributes:
+      values:
+        range: float
+        multivalued: true
+        implements:
+          - linkml:elements
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: deg
+    annotations:
+      dimensions: 1
+
+  LongitudeSeries:
+    description: A series whose values represent longitude
+    implements:
+      - linkml:NDArray
+    attributes:
+      values:
+        range: float
+        multivalued: true
+        implements:
+          - linkml:elements
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: deg
+    annotations:
+      dimensions: 1
+
+  DaySeries:
+    description: A series whose values represent the days since the start of the measurement period
+    implements:
+      - linkml:NDArray
+    attributes:
+      values:
+        range: float
+        multivalued: true
+        implements:
+          - linkml:elements
+        required: true
+        unit:
+          ucum_code: d
+    annotations:
+      dimensions: 1
diff --git a/tests/fixtures.py b/tests/fixtures.py
index fc57120..c7d6e42 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import pytest
 from linkml_runtime.linkml_model import ClassDefinition, SlotDefinition
 
+DATA_DIR = Path(__file__).parent / "data"
+
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def tmp_output_dir() -> Path:
@@ -72,3 +74,29 @@ def nwb_linkml_array() -> tuple[ClassDefinition, str]:
         NDArray[Shape["* x, * y, 3 z, 4 a"], Number]
     ]"""
     return classdef, generated
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def patch_slotarray():
+    import sys
+
+    # modname = "linkml_runtime.linkml_model.meta"
+    # if modname in sys.modules:
+    #     del sys.modules[modname]
+
+    from numpydantic.linkml.slotarray import patch_linkml
+    import linkml_runtime
+    from linkml_runtime.linkml_model.meta import SlotDefinition
+
+    original_slot = SlotDefinition
+
+    yield patch_linkml()
+
+    linkml_runtime.linkml_model.SlotDefinition = original_slot
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def slotarray_schemaview(patch_slotarray):
+    from linkml_runtime.utils.schemaview import SchemaView
+
+    return SchemaView(DATA_DIR / "slotarray.yaml")
diff --git a/tests/test_linkml/test_slotarray.py b/tests/test_linkml/test_slotarray.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f218450
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_linkml/test_slotarray.py
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+"""
+Lol i know all these shoudl be made into parameterized test cases and i will do that after
+i get them to work. don't @ me bro
+"""
+
+import pdb
+
+import pytest
+
+from ..fixtures import patch_slotarray, slotarray_schemaview, DATA_DIR
+
+from numpydantic.linkml.slotarray import SlotNDArray
+from numpydantic.linkml.pydanticgen import PydanticGenerator
+
+# --------------------------------------------------
+# Only dimensions
+# --------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_exact_dimensions(slotarray_schemaview):
+    cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("ExactDimension")
+    array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+    annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+    # hardcoding for now...
+    assert annotation == 'NDArray[Shape["*, *, *"], Float]'
+
+
+def test_min_dimensions(slotarray_schemaview):
+    cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("MinDimensions")
+    array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+    annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+    assert annotation == 'NDArray[Shape["*, *, *, ..."], Float]'
+
+
+def test_max_dimensions(slotarray_schemaview):
+    cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("MaxDimensions")
+    array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+    annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+    assert (
+        annotation
+        == """Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["*"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *, *"], Float]
+    ]"""
+    )
+
+
+def test_range_dimensions(slotarray_schemaview):
+    cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("RangeDimensions")
+    array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+    annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+    assert (
+        annotation
+        == """Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *, *"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *, *, *"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["*, *, *, *, *"], Float]
+    ]"""
+    )
+
+
+def test_exact_cardinality(slotarray_schemaview):
+    cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("ExactCardinality")
+    array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+    annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+    assert annotation == """NDArray[Shape["3 x"], Float]"""
+
+
+def test_min_cardinality(slotarray_schemaview):
+    cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("MinCardinality")
+    array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        # no way to specify ranges in nptyping ranges yet, this would go to infinity
+        SlotNDArray.make(array)
+
+
+def test_max_cardinality(slotarray_schemaview):
+    cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("MaxCardinality")
+    array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+    annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+    assert (
+        annotation
+        == """Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["1 x"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["2 x"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["3 x"], Float]
+    ]"""
+    )
+
+
+def test_range_cardinality(slotarray_schemaview):
+    cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("RangeCardinality")
+    array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+    annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+
+    assert (
+        annotation
+        == """Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["2 x"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["3 x"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["4 x"], Float]
+    ]"""
+    )
+
+
+def test_exclusive_axes(slotarray_schemaview):
+    cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("ExclusiveAxes")
+    array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+    annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+    assert (
+        annotation
+        == """Union[
+        NDArray[Shape["* x, * y, 3 rgb"], Float],
+        NDArray[Shape["* x, * y, 4 rgba"], Float]
+    ]"""
+    )
+
+
+# def test_generate_schema(patch_slotarray):
+#     schema = DATA_DIR / "slotarray.yaml"
+#     generator = PydanticGenerator(schema)
+#     serialized = generator.serialize()
+#     pdb.set_trace()
+
+
+# def test_optional_axes(slotarray_schemaview):
+#     cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("OptionalAxes")
+#     array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+#     annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+#     # assert annotation == ""
+#
+#
+# def test_mixed_named_unnamed_dimensions(slotarray_schemaview):
+#     cls = slotarray_schemaview.get_class("MixedNamedUnnamed")
+#     array = cls.attributes["temp"]
+#     annotation = SlotNDArray.make(array)
+#     # assert annotation == ""