Aluminum Sheet Metal Bending Radius

Larger bend radii require about the same force for bottoming as they do for air bending however smaller radii require greater force up to five times as much than air bending.

Aluminum sheet metal bending radius.

We go beyond the general rules of sheet metal bending as our customers want tight bend radii for sheet metal parts. 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. The tables below show bend radii and minimum bend sizes for materials and tooling combinations stocked by protocase. Per the aluminum association inc.

The bending radius must be at least 0 8 t to 2 t for sheet steel. Table 1 preferred recommended 90 degree bend radii for various sheet metals. Sheet metal bend radii if these guidelines are not followed more research and or some form of analysis may be requried. Also known as press braking flanging die bending folding and edging this method is used to deform a material to an angular shape.

Apart from alloy selection thickness and bend radius are also critical factors that must be considered. Aluminum minimum bend radii for 90 degree cold forming of sheet and plate. The bend radii listed are standard minimum if manufacturing for aircraft and aerospace applications. If your bend radius needs to be adjusted a member of engineering design services team will contact you before your design is manufactured.

Recommended minimum bend radii for steel and aluminum. The bend radius you select may not be available if the geometry of the part will not allow us to bend with the specific tooling required to achieve that radius. Another factor to consider is that during the process of bending the metal hardens and strengthens by reason of the working effect. The minimum bend radius data shown in these charts is measured to the inside of the bend.

Bending is one of the most common sheet metal fabrication operations. Aluminum where necessary 5052 h32 may be bent to 1t and 6061 t6 to 1 1 2t. 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 material thickness will be measured in decimal form not by the gauge number.

The force must exceed the material s yield strength to achieve a plastic deformation. Factor 2 thickness and bend radius. You will need to know your material thickness mt the bend angle b the inside radius ir and the k factor k. Advantages of bottoming include greater accuracy and less springback.

The table below shows the permitted bend radii for 90 o bending. Radii for various thicknesses expressed in terms of thickness t. It is possible to choose other bends if you require but additional lead time and tooling charges may apply.