Bending Aluminum Sheet Minimum Radius
Preferred recommended 90 degree bend radii for various sheet metals.
Bending aluminum sheet minimum radius. Still if you want to avoid cracking abide by the minimum bend radius in 0 25 in thick 6061 t6 which is quite large see figure 3 and avoid bending acute angles. The tables below show bend radii and minimum bend sizes for materials and tooling combinations stocked by protocase. Use this document to choose values that are both manufacturable and meet your needs. Where necessary 5052 h32 may be bent to 1t and 6061 t6 to 1 1 2t.
The bend radii listed are standard minimum if manufacturing for aircraft and aerospace applications. Bend radii minimum bend sizes. 4 0 5 2. We go beyond the general rules of sheet metal bending as our customers want tight bend radii for sheet metal parts.
If the material is 0 5 inch thick. It is possible to choose other bends if you require but additional lead time and tooling charges may apply. Say you get a print that says you need to bend a part to an external angle of 100 degrees that s an internal angle of just 80 degrees. So in this case the minimum inside bend radius is 2 times the material thickness.
Aluminum minimum bend radii for 90 degree cold forming of sheet and plate. Discover all our calculation tools in the calculators section of the top menu. Per the aluminum association inc. In general parts should be designed with a minimum 1t bend radius radius matching the sheet thickness for the simplest setup and to ensure we can form the intended geometry.
It is most economical to use a single bend radius throughout the design but if necessary you can utilize multiple radii. Radii for various thicknesses expressed in terms of thickness t. Now multiply that answer by the plate thickness. The minimum bend radius for aluminum when working with aluminum over sheet metal several variables need to be considered.
Since commercial sheet metal bending can be done with less concern for stresses caused during forming operation the radius can be near zero for thin sheet metal. This tool allows you to determine tonnage internal radius v die opening and minimum flange you just have to insert the characteristics of the sheet metal to be bent. Steel american iron and steel institute 1 see aisi s fabrication guidlines for cold bending. If i am looking at properties for a36 steel i see elongation properties between 18 and 21 percent.
We recommend 5052 h32 for aluminum chassis projects.