Bend 1/8” Aluminum?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
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Bend 1/8” Aluminum?
How Would I go about Bending 1/8” Aluminum about 60 degrees? No access to a Brake. Would it support it’s own weight after the bend? I want to make an LED Light for a small Coral Frag grow out tank on an odd size Aquarium, with a concentration of LED Strips. Lots of heat, that I need to dissipate.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,467
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From: Staten Island, NY
Well the answer is...it depends. Is it a fairly form-able aluminum alloy like 6061 or 2024? or is it something like 7075 which is hard and brittle? Assuming it is an alloy that can take a bend without cracking and it isn't too big a piece you can probably bend it in a vise. If longer than the vise jaws clamp it in the vise along with a piece of angle iron and bend around that. You could also clamp it to a workbench along with a chunk of pipe and bend around that. Again, it depends on how big a piece of aluminum and how sharp you want the bend line. You say you don't have access to a brake. How about a small shop hydraulic press? If so, sandwich the sheet between 2 pieces of angle iron and use the press. These are just a few ideas I've used in the past. Get creative!
As far as supporting its own weight, that shouldn't be a problem. One eighth inch is actually fairly thick and as long as you don't make the bend line too sharp you shouldn't lose any strength.
As far as supporting its own weight, that shouldn't be a problem. One eighth inch is actually fairly thick and as long as you don't make the bend line too sharp you shouldn't lose any strength.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
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Thanks, I put out messages for using a Brake, a semi-retired welder, says he thinks he has some Aluminum that’s 3/32”. I’m welcome to it and he has a machine that will bend it. He told me about two tricks to heat bend aluminum. One you take a black sharpie and mark up the Aluminum, heat with MAP Gas, when the mark disappears it’s ready. Other one is to Soot the Aluminum with Acetylene, turn Oxygen on, when the Soot burns off it’s ready. Not sure if I’m ready for that, LOL.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,252
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From: Chino Valley, Arizona
30 years ago in A&P school i learned the formula for the radius of bends, that information is gone from my memory.
might be worth searching for the formula though.
I do know if you have too small of a radius it will crack.
also need bent across the grain.
might be worth searching for the formula though.
I do know if you have too small of a radius it will crack.
also need bent across the grain.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 107
From: Staten Island, NY
Be wary of heating aluminum in order to bend it. Unless you are working with dead soft aluminum sheet, heating it will alter the temper in the heated area rendering it softer than the rest of the sheet and prone to cracking.
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