Jay
You may end up with some cracks in the plate even at that radius. In
the T6 condition it doesn't like to be bent. If you can get some 5052
aluminum it will bend with out cracking or you can try annealing the alum.
I have annealled some 1" tubing on the BBQ, worked very well. The
tubing fits nicely in the notch of the BBQ cover where the rotissery
attachment goes :-) I made a set of dies out of plywood to put a
180degree 4" radius bend in the 1" tubing. Just like butter. It also
work hardened up nicely afterwards.
I found this chart for bend tolerences
http://www.mecon-ind.com/brake/brake-14.html

Jay Mojave wrote:

Hello All: Neat ng here with all the questions and answers on metal
working.

I have a project coming up where I have to bend some 6061 T6 .18" thick
plate. The bend radius can be 1/2 inch, or even larger.

I bend aluminum tubing all time with good success, but it uses a 3 inch
bend radius. And thinner aluminum sheet metal bending isn't a problem,
keeping a eye on the grain and bend radius.

Is there a book or wed site that explains the rules and procedures of
bending aluminum??

Thanks for any help here.

Jay in the Great Mojave Deseret.


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James P Crombie

Summerside Machinist
Prince Edward Island Amateur Astronomer
Canada 3D Designer

E-mail
Astronomy webpage http://www.jamescrombie.com
Rhinoceros 3D webpage http://www.jamescrombie.com/rhino/
Mirror Grinder page http://www.jamescrombie.com/pics/
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