"Ned Simmons" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:17:49 -0500, Terry
wrote:

On 03 Aug 2010 11:08:42 GMT, John Doe wrote:

I see the description on McMaster-Carr. Is there any difference
for bending? It will be used for ordinary purposes, nothing
precise. Is there any difference between 6061 and 6063 that
matters to a layperson?

Thanks.
If memory serves, 6063 has about half the tensile strength of 6061.

Closer to 80% in the T6 condition. I researched this pretty thoroughly
for a customer a few years ago. They received a large shipment of
custom extrusions that were supposed to be 6061, but there was a mixup
and the mill ran 6063 instead.

--
Ned Simmons

Right. ASM (_Metals Handbook, 9th Ed.) shows 42 ksi ultimate tensile and 37
ksi yield for 6061 T6. For 6063, the comparable numbers are 35 ksi and 31
ksi. There are some stronger tempers for 6063 (T83; T832). But it's
primarily an extrusion alloy, with machineability and weldability for both
alloys being similar.

Heat treatment is almost the same for both alloys. Annealing is done at 775
deg. F; hold for 2 - 3 hours; ramp down at 50 deg. F per hour from 775 F to
500 F.

Both alloys indicate 12% elongation at the T6 temper, so neither one is very
good for making tight bends in the hard condition.

--
Ed Huntress