Bending 6061 Aluminum Sheet

1 16 in.

Bending 6061 aluminum sheet.

But the question remains the same which alloy is the best product for bending. This is generalizing as there are ways to bend 6061 but for general bending you use 3003 or 5052 grain direction bend line should go across the grain for the best bend having said that a typical sharp 90 bend on a piece of 1 8 aluminum sheet should be a minimum 1 8 inside radius use either 3003 or 5052 ideally the bend line should go. When you are forming aluminum if the radius is sharp small in relation to the material thickness you will overwork the material making it harder more brittle and much more likely to fail. That is it gets stronger and harder by working bending it.

The bend radii listed are standard minimum if manufacturing for aircraft and aerospace applications. 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. From non heat treatable 3003 and 5052 to the heat treatable 2024 6061 and 7075 you have many options from which to choose. 3 8 in.

O 0 0 0 1t 1t 1t 1 1 2 t 2t. 3 16 in. I agree that i would not heat 6061 to bend but i disagree with 6061 work hardening i ve been manual spinning aluminum mostly 6061 0 for 40 years and can form drastically 6061 0 with no noticeable work hardening. What about the 6061t6 aluminum plate bending 90 degrees compared to the 3000 series and 5000 series.

Chances are that you ll never make it to 90 degrees much less make it to an external angle of 100 degrees. Clinton aluminum offers a variety of products each covering a wide range of applications and processes. 1 32 in. The minimum bend radius data shown in these charts is measured to the inside of the bend.

3003 and 5052 does work harden. Steel american iron and steel institute 1 see aisi s fabrication guidlines for cold bending thk 6061 t6. Recommended minimum bend radii for 90 degree cold forming of sheet plate temper 1 64 in. Just like all sheet metal aluminum work hardens during the forming process.

1 8 in. In my 40 plus years in the trade i have bent quite a lot of 6061 t6 aluminum. Aluminum where necessary 5052 h32 may be bent to 1t and 6061 t6 to 1 1 2t. 1 2 in.

When you are bending 0 25 in thick 6061 t6 cracking can occur when bending past an external angle of just 86 degrees. 1 4 in.