Bending Aluminium Sheet

Die opening with a relieved profile.

Bending aluminium sheet.

Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards. You d probably air bend by using a 3 0 in. Flip the sheet over and repeat. 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. If you re bending 0 020 thick material use a 0 020 radius. 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. Bending sheet aluminum with a bending brake 1.

To calculate the expansion that will take place on the outside of your bend angle you will need to know your bend allowance. Purchase a metal bending brake online or at your local hardware store. Say you re bending 0 25 in thick 6061 t6 aluminum to a 100 degree external angle 80 degree internal angle. Insert your aluminum sheet into the brake beneath the removable clamp bar.

A bending brake is a specialized metalworking. Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin snips which tend to deform the metal. For most applications with stainless steel or aluminum you can get away with a zero radius bend on anything under 0 050 thick.