Aluminum bending

Minifaber&#;s technical office will guide you through every step of the aluminum bending process, from the very beginning until the very end, making sure that you pick the right alloy that best answers your needs.

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How does aluminum bending work?

The process of bending aluminum is made extremely easy by this metal&#;s well-known characteristics. In high purity forms, aluminum is soft, ductile, malleable and light. These features allow to bend aluminum, without the risk of breaking it and causing cracks.

However, in many occasions pure aluminum isn&#;t sufficient (even if it&#;s easier to bend), and it&#;s presented the need for aluminum alloys.

So, which alloys are best suited for bending?

If you&#;re interested in Minifaber&#;s aluminum bending process, contact us! We will assist you with a personalized assistance.

Bending aluminum alloys

In order to be able to answer that question, we need to consider 3 things:

1.Formability

Aluminum has a wide range of different alloys, with different chemical compositions, which make them applicable in various fields of metal processing. Let&#;s take a look at all the different series of aluminum alloys:

• Series 1: these are the alloys that have 99% of pure aluminum. They are very ductile and have excellent corrosion resistance
• Series 2: here aluminum is mixed with copper. These alloys have limited cold formability and less corrosion resistance than other alloys, which is why they are anodized prior to usage.
• Series 3: here aluminum is mixed with a 1% of manganese. These alloys have good corrosion resistance and very good formability.
• Series 4: these alloys present the addition of silicon, which lowers the melting point, and this is why it&#;s used entirely for manufacturing welding wire.
• Series 5: these alloys are mixed with magnesium. They exhibit a very good combination of high strength, resistance to corrosion, formability, and good weldability.
• Series 6: these alloys are made of a mixture of aluminum, magnesium and silicon. They exhibit great strength, good corrosion resistance, and ease of formability, and are mainly used in architectural applications.
• Series 7: this series includes alloys made of aluminum, zinc and magnesium, and also alloys made of aluminum, zinc and copper. They exhibit very high strength, which makes them very difficult to form.

2.Thickness and bend radius

When bending aluminum, there is something else that needs to be considered: during the process of bending, aluminum hardens and strengthens by reason of the working effect. Therefore, the thickness of the aluminum sheet and the bend radius are also critical factors that must be taken under consideration.

3.Level of elongation

Lastly, a third factor that needs to be considered is the percentage of elongation of each alloy and the difference between yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. On this percentage depends the level of formability of the aluminum alloy.

According to this mechanical rule: the higher the elongation value (meaning, the wider the range between yield and tensile strength), the better the forming ability of the alloy.

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So, after applying this rule to the aforementioned alloys&#; characteristics, it looks like the best aluminum series for bending are series 3, 5, and in some cases 6. Series 2 and 7 should be avoided due to the fact that, being extremely strong, they are difficult to form in any way.

Essential machinery for aluminum sheet bending

When it comes to bending aluminum sheets, there are several types of machinery that are specifically designed for this purpose. One of the commonly used machines is the press brake, which utilizes a powerful hydraulic system to exert controlled force on the aluminum sheet, creating precise bends. Another popular option is the roll bending machine, which utilizes a set of rollers to gradually bend the aluminum into the desired shape.

These machines offer versatility in terms of bend angles, thicknesses, and sheet sizes they can handle. Whether you are working with small-scale projects or large industrial applications, Minifaber has the right machinery for to meet the specific requirements of your needs.

If you&#;re interested in Minifaber&#;s aluminum bending process, contact us! We will assist you with a personalized assistance.

The metals industry is one of the most important sectors of the global economy. Metal bending is a common procedure in transforming metal into finished products. Bending metals may look simple, but it requires a variety of specific techniques and complex machines.

Our metal bending experts introduce you to the top 5 metal bending techniques used today, to help you choose the most suitable bending technique for your industrial project.

1. Press brake

A press brake is a metal bending machine that consists of a worktable, a hydraulic cylinder, a bending tool (called a punch) and a holding tool (called a die).

The unbent metal is placed on the worktable between the punch and the die. The hydraulic cylinder lowers and puts pressure on the metal until it bends into the shape of the die.

This bending technique is very precise and works well for bending complex, large or thick metal parts. However, it is relatively expensive and requires specific training to be used safely.

Press brake bending is used widely in industrial settings, from automotive parts manufacturing to the production of equipment for the oil and gas industry. It is the preferred technique for parts that require high precision, such as machine components, door frames, body panels, etc.

2. Rolling machine

A rolling machine is used to bend metal sheets into cylinders, cones or similar shapes. It consists of three rollers: two side or bottom rollers and a center roller. A metal sheet is placed between the rollers, which rotate to exert force on the sheet and bend it to the shape of the rollers.

Folding with a rolling machine is ideal for projects requiring curved metal parts. The side rollers can be adjusted to create complex shapes, making it a very versatile bending technique. However, rolling machines are not the best choice for bending thicker parts or parts requiring high precision.

Industrial applications for roll bending are diverse, ranging from pipe and tank manufacturing to the production of components for food and beverage processing equipment.

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