Best Grade Of Aluminum Sheet For Bending

Aluminium alloy 3003 excellent for bending.

Best grade of aluminum sheet for bending.

The best aluminum alloys for bending come down to series 3xxx and series 5xxx and sometimes series 6xxx. Aluminium alloy 6063 is a good choice for example while 6082 is more difficult. Ideally part designers should know that when it comes to aluminum grades 3003 and 5052 will bend 6061 will not. From non heat treatable 3003 and 5052 to the heat treatable 2024 6061 and 7075 you have many options from which to choose.

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. In most cases it can be difficult to choose the correct aluminum grade for your intended application. 1050h14 is an extremely ductile grade of aluminium and therefore it is most commonly used by fabricators and sheet metal workers who will bend and form the sheet into a requested shape. The best series for forming and thus for bending are the alloy series 3xxx 5xxx and in some cases 6xxx.

Just like all sheet metal aluminum work hardens during the forming process. When you are forming aluminum if the radius is sharp small in relation to the material thickness you will overwork the material making it harder more brittle and much more likely to fail. Your intended use allows you to rank the characteristics of each grade from most important to least important. That is it gets stronger and harder by working bending it.

The 5000 series grades of aluminium are non. But the question remains the same which alloy is the best product for bending. If your project does not have any physical or structural demands and the aesthetics are not important then almost any aluminum grade will do the job. Aluminum is a common metal used for both industrial and non industrial applications.

This will help you narrow down the list of suitable grades. Clinton aluminum offers a variety of products each covering a wide range of applications and processes. The top 3 aluminum alloys for being are the 3003 which has medium strength and the best cold workability the 5052 which is the highest strength alloy of the more common non heat treatable grades and the 6061 which is one of the more.