Bending Aluminum Sheet With Heat

Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards.

Bending aluminum sheet with heat.

From non heat treatable 3003 and 5052 to the heat treatable 2024 6061 and 7075 you have many options from which to choose. This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line. Clinton aluminum offers a variety of products each covering a wide range of applications and processes. This should anneal the 6061 t6 or other t into a t 0 material.

A bending brake will be best suited for shaping flat square sheets of light gauge aluminum. In the event that you are bending a thick piece of sheet metal you can apply heat from a blowtorch along the seam of your bend line to facilitate your bend. When bending aluminum know that the smaller your inside bend radius the larger the chance that cracking will occur in the part. This is a highly technical and potentially dangerous process best left to a professional metalworker.

But the question remains the same which alloy is the best product for bending. Miserable to bend cracking is very common and cold bending will always weaken the metal. With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet. Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin snips which tend to deform the metal.

Keep in mind that many kinds of fabricated metal have extremely high melting points and applying your torch injudiciously could cause damage or do harm to your sheet metal or equipment. Steve benson is a member and former chair of the precision sheet metal technology. Heavy gauge aluminum bars or rods must be heat bent using an acetylene torch and vice.