tips to form 1/8" 6061 aluminum
tips to form 1/8" 6061 aluminum
(OP)
need some advice on how to form 1/8" aluminum... flat plate that needs to have a 90 degree bend with smallest radius possible... part needs to cosmetically appealing (polished mirror finish)i have to be able to minimize stress marks. best tip to heat appropriately...





RE: tips to form 1/8" 6061 aluminum
The best way to get the 90° is to use a Pressbrake...to retain the cosmetic appearance you would probably have to use "DieThane"? urethane die guides.
As for the smallest radius possible it's generally said that with most materials you don't want to go less than 1.5x the matieral thickness.
To truly determine what you can do you would need to talk to a fabricator in your area familiar with forming Al alloys...the alloy makes a difference.
What kind of heating are you wanting to do..with the right tools you can form the angle and not need to add heat?
Alan M. Etzkorn

Product Engineer
Nixon Tool Co.
www.nixontool.com
RE: tips to form 1/8" 6061 aluminum
http://www.engineersedge.com/sheet_metal.htm
and
http://www.precisionsheetmetal.com/home/materials.htm#Aluminum%20Bend%20Radii
A mirror finished Al alloy is more likely to be fairly soft rather than a heat-treated alloy full of precipitates, but again, check the alloy and temper. I would try to avoid heating; it isn’t a good idea to heat heat-treatable alloys, anyway, and they cost twice as much. If you have a choice, buy a softer Al alloy as mirror finish sheet with a protective plastic film, and don’t remove the film until after bending.
RE: tips to form 1/8" 6061 aluminum
hope that helps
RE: tips to form 1/8" 6061 aluminum
Ben T