Aluminum Sheet Bending Tips

Sheet metal design tips for bending.

Aluminum sheet bending tips.

So i talked to our experienced sales engineer who knows his bit about sheet metal bending. Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin snips which tend to deform the metal. Finally bend the sheet up by hand to the angle desired. How to bend sheet metal without a brake.

In some cases as with thicker sheet of metal you may need to use a sheet metal brake to apply your bend. Mark a bend line and place the sheet metal on the edge of your bench. In other words if you re bending 1 8 sheet use a tool with a 1 8 radius to form the inside of the bend. If you want a sharp 90 bend tap along the crease with a mallet.

He lit up and decided to make the fullest of the opportunity to share his insights on sheet metal bending. Bending is a delicate and demanding process most of the time and common fabricating processes require a degree of formability that make your choice of proper alloy critical. Tips to remove irregularity or improve uneven bends place a hardwood piece lengthwise along the bend and hit the bend with increased strength using a heavy duty hammer or mallet. Insert your aluminum sheet into the brake beneath the removable clamp bar.

Thus he brought out a list of common mistakes and the solutions to avoid them. When bending aluminum know that the smaller your inside bend radius the larger the chance that cracking will occur in the part. If you re bending 0 020 thick material use a 0 020 radius. Depending on designation alloys go through different heat treatment procedures during production.

Also know that for the best results and fewer cracks on the outside of the bend the bend line should go across or diagonal to the material grain when and where possible. Make sure the bar is seated firmly inside the frame. Next place the wood parallel and slightly behind the bending line. Clamp the wood on top of the metal to the workbench.

With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet. 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. Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards. For most applications with stainless steel or aluminum you can get away with a zero radius bend on anything under 0 050 thick.

This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line.