Determine Natural Bend Of Sheet Aluminum

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.

Determine natural bend of sheet aluminum.

Bend allowance calculator the bend allowance and bend deduction are two measures that relate the bent length of a piece of sheet metal to the flat length. With this free online tool we quickly get the sheet metal bend deduction and therefore the sheet metal blank initial flat length from the finished part measurements. Cells on the right will output the desired values. 90 degrees bend angle.

The bend allowance formula takes into account the geometries of bending and the properties of your metal to determine the bend allowance. General advice on aluminum. After bending the sheet we need to do some measurements as shown in figure 2. If you re bending 0 020 thick material use a 0 020 radius.

Determine your minimum bend by measuring the distance from your closest feature i e. You only have to insert interior angle flange lengths k factor inside radius and material thickness. Figure 2 illustrates the sheet that is bent with the bend angle of 90 degrees. You will use the protractor to gauge the brake as you bend the metal little by little.

If your sheet metal is too thick you may need special machinery like a brake or a torch to bend your sheet into the desired shape. A cutout or the edge of your flange to your bend. For most applications with stainless steel or aluminum you can get away with a zero radius bend on anything under 0 050 thick. Also know that for the best results and fewer cracks on the outside of the bend the bend line should go across or diagonal to the material grain when and where possible.

The material thickness will be measured in decimal form not by the gauge number. Determine the angle at which you want to brake the metal and mark it on the protractor. Choose a bend radius that matches your minimum bend. The bend radii listed are standard minimum if manufacturing for aircraft and aerospace applications.

If you have any questions or want to discuss your design contact us. The minimum bend radius data shown in these charts is measured to the inside of the bend. When bending aluminum know that the smaller your inside bend radius the larger the chance that cracking will occur in the part. You can use a tape measure or ruler to measure the thickness of your sheet metal.

This measurement will be necessary for calculating your bend allowance. We will start by calculating the bend allowance. Cut the section of metal out or otherwise prepare the metal to be bent by removing any burrs or sharp edges. Determine the thickness of your sheet.

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.