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.
Bending 6061 aluminum sheet.
3 16 in.
What about the 6061t6 aluminum plate bending 90 degrees compared to the 3000 series and 5000 series.
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.
In my 40 plus years in the trade i have bent quite a lot of 6061 t6 aluminum.
O 0 0 0 1t 1t 1t 1 1 2 t 2t.
1 4 in.
1 16 in.
From non heat treatable 3003 and 5052 to the heat treatable 2024 6061 and 7075 you have many options from which to choose.
Will 6061t6 aluminum plate will be cracked at 90 degrees.
1 8 in.
Just like all sheet metal aluminum work hardens during the forming process.
Steel american iron and steel institute 1 see aisi s fabrication guidlines for cold bending thk 6061 t6.
When you are bending 0 25 in thick 6061 t6 cracking can occur when bending past an external angle of just 86 degrees.
1 2 in.
6061 aluminum sheet plate offers a combination of higher strength good corrosion resistance and machinability making the 6061 grade the most widely used aluminum sheet and plate grade available for all types of fabrication projects the general purpose 6061 aluminum sheet plate is heat treatable resists cracking due to stress and is easy to weld and machine but limited on formability.
The 6061 t6 aluminum sheet has stable performance and high hardness is widely used in industry such as trucks buildings ships vehicles furniture machinery moulds etc.
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.
Aluminum where necessary 5052 h32 may be bent to 1t and 6061 t6 to 1 1 2t.
Recommended minimum bend radii for 90 degree cold forming of sheet plate temper 1 64 in.
1 32 in.
Chances are that you ll never make it to 90 degrees much less make it to an external angle of 100 degrees.
The bend radii listed are standard minimum if manufacturing for aircraft and aerospace applications.
Clinton aluminum offers a variety of products each covering a wide range of applications and processes.
But the question remains the same which alloy is the best product for bending.
The minimum bend radius data shown in these charts is measured to the inside of the bend.
3003 and 5052 does work harden.
