Bending 6061 T6 Aluminum Sheet

Die opening with a relieved profile.

Bending 6061 t6 aluminum sheet.

Aluminum where necessary 5052 h32 may be bent to 1t and 6061 t6 to 1 1 2t. When moving up to t4 and t6 tempers however bending ability tends to decrease. Recommended minimum bend radii for 90 degree cold forming of sheet plate temper 1 64 in. In contrast the 6061 o aluminum sheet is more suitable for bending but because it is too soft basically 6061 aluminum sheet with o soft temper is seldom used for bend.

Material suppliers have tables that show the approximate minimum inside bend radius for the various alloys the temper condition of each and the minimum allowable inside radius at 90 degrees of bend angle. Say you re bending 0 25 in thick 6061 t6 aluminum to a 100 degree external angle 80 degree internal angle. 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. O 0 0 0 1t 1t 1t 11 2t 2t t4 0 0 1t 11 2 t21 2 3t 31 2t 4t t6 1t 1t 11 2t 21 2t 3t 31 2 t41 2 5t.

In the annealed condition it can be used for bending since the difference between yield and tensile strength is 10 ksi and elongation is up to 18. The 6061t6 aluminum sheet is easy to wrinkle or crack on the side of the bent surface. The 6061t6 aluminum sheet can be bent but the hardness of the t6 temper is high. The data provided on our website has been vetted to the best of our availabilities.

This is one of the most versatile of the heat treatable family of alloys. To make this easier you d start with your 6061 material in the soft t 0 state. Steel american iron and steel institute 1 see aisi s fabrication guidlines for cold bending thk 6061 t6. The minimum bend radius data shown in these charts is measured to the inside of the bend.

The main alloying elements are magnesium mg and silicon si. Here the alloy is 6061 and the temper is t6 meaning the alloy has been thermally treated. Per the aluminum association inc. 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.

6061 aluminum alloy al 6061 t6 6061 t651 6061 t4 al 6061 aluminum alloy is a general purpose structural alloy developed by alcoa in 1935. It is one of the most widely used alloys. To our valued customers. The bend radii listed are standard minimum if manufacturing for aircraft and aerospace applications.

The temper designations mainly have 6061 t4 t451 al 6061 t6 6061 t651 etc.