Bending Aluminum Sheet With Heat

This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line.

Bending aluminum sheet with heat.

When bending aluminum know that the smaller your inside bend radius the larger the chance that cracking will occur in the part. Steve benson is a member and former chair of the precision sheet metal technology. With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet. Clinton aluminum offers a variety of products each covering a wide range of applications and processes.

Proper bending can be done with annealing the aluminum first although it s not an ideal candidate for formed parts. But the question remains the same which alloy is the best product for bending. Heat the part uniformly until the black soot goes away. Highly formable and one of the best kinds of aluminum to bend.

Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards. This should anneal the 6061 t6 or other t into a t 0 material. In the event that you are bending a thick piece of sheet metal you can apply heat from a blowtorch along the seam of your bend line to facilitate your bend. Miserable to bend cracking is very common and cold bending will always weaken the metal.

Keep in mind that many kinds of fabricated metal have extremely high melting points and applying your torch injudiciously could cause damage or do harm to your sheet metal or equipment. From non heat treatable 3003 and 5052 to the heat treatable 2024 6061 and 7075 you have many options from which to choose. A bending brake will be best suited for shaping flat square sheets of light gauge aluminum.