Bending Aluminum Sheet Curve

Step 1 use just act.

Bending aluminum sheet curve.

With care and patience full size sheets of aluminium can be cut using this method. Make sure the first bend mark lines up exactly with the curve in the form so that the bending will begin in the right spot. Curving or rolling aluminum can be a little bit more difficult than curving or rolling normal carbon steel. This is done through the application of force on a workpiece.

Although there are many different grades and tempers of aluminum two of the most frequently worked with are 6061 t6 and 6063 t52. If the operator is not familiar with the tendencies of aluminum the material can crack or become deformed. Also known as press braking flanging die bending folding and edging this method is used to deform a material to an angular shape. Bending is one of the most common sheet metal fabrication operations.

Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards. I ve bent a fair amount of 6061 aluminum the trick i was taught was to heat it with oxy act torch. Bend metal without expensive tools. I ll be bending the metal using a jig just like the one in this ible i m a big fan of atomic zombie s builds.

Using protective gloves hold the free end of the metal sheet with one hand and with the other hand use a mallet or hammer to begin bending the sheet down and around the curved radius of the wood form. The force must exceed the material s yield strength to achieve a plastic deformation. Except i like curved lines once in a while. After a few wiggles the sheet will fracture along the cut line leaving a clean break as shown in the above photos.

Update check out this super two person trike my partner and i are offering on kickstarter. You have now annealed your 6061 t whatever into t 0 and it should bend without cracking. Make sure the bar is seated firmly inside the frame. You can find your bend allowance with the following formula.

Die opening with a relieved profile. If you re bending 0 020 thick material use a 0 020 radius. Create a long fracture line then progressively bend the sheet from one end to to the other. Step 3 heat part until black soot goes away.

Flip the sheet over and repeat. Then place the clamp bar back down on top of the aluminum crosswise. Here s a good rule of thumb for most materials. To make this easier you d start with your 6061 material in the soft t 0 state.

Lift the clamp bar away from the rear of the brake frame and slide the sheet in perpendicularly to the direction you want to bend it. And coat the area to be bent with soot step 2 turn on o2 and set rose bud to a normal flame. Insert your aluminum sheet into the brake beneath the removable clamp bar. The inside bend radius should be equal to the thickness of the material that you re forming.

Say you re bending 0 25 in thick 6061 t6 aluminum to a 100 degree external angle 80 degree internal angle.