Bending Aluminum Plate

Hello All: Neat ng here with all the questions and answers on metal working.

I have a project coming up where I have to bend some 6061 T6 .18" thick plate. The bend radius can be 1/2 inch, or even larger.

I bend aluminum tubing all time with good success, but it uses a 3 inch bend radius. And thinner aluminum sheet metal bending isn't a problem, keeping a eye on the grain and bend radius.

Is there a book or wed site that explains the rules and procedures of bending aluminum??

Thanks for any help here.

Jay in the Great Mojave Deseret.

Reply to
Jay Mojave
Loading thread data ...

Reply to
James P Crombie

Jay: . I just finished bending some 063 6061T6 (across the grain) to a 90 degree bend but used two thicknesses of 032 to create the needed radius. Based on my test you would need probably at least a 0.18 pre-bent piece of say 5052 and a brake with adjustable setback. I made my own brake for small pieces (12" wide) and have bent up to and including 0.125 4130 steel in it. It has adjustable setback built into it.

Where in the Mojave Desert are you? Stuart Fields in Inyokern Ca

Reply to
Stu Fields

You will do best to anneal the material first. Heat the bend area with a propane torch until it causes oil to smoke. Then plunge it into cold water. The material will be AMAZINGLY soft for a day or so. I had cut an instrument panel out on my mill, with a lot of detail, and then realized this was some stuff that absolutely would not take any bending at all. I heated and quenched it, and it bent very well.

Jon

Reply to
Jon Elson

The minimum bend radius for 6061 T6 is 2 to 4 times the thickness. The chart on the link is only good for steel! For best results on a small radius polish the edges of the material at the bend site. 1/2" looks about right.

I have a file on

formatting link
the full range of aluminium alloys and tempers showing the minimum bend radius for each.

Glenn

Reply to
Glenn Cramond

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.