Minimum Bend Radius Steel Sheet Metal

Keeping the bend radius consistent will also make parts more cost effective.

Minimum bend radius steel sheet metal. The tables below show bend radii and minimum bend sizes for materials and tooling combinations stocked by protocase. Recommended minimum bend radii for steel and aluminum. Bend radii minimum bend sizes. It shall be equal to three times of sheet thickness plus bend radius.

Aluminum 5052 or 3003. The minimum inside bend radius is even larger when bending with the grain. Table 1 preferred recommended 90 degree bend radii for various sheet metals. We go beyond the general rules of sheet metal bending as our customers want tight bend radii for sheet metal parts.

It is possible to choose other bends if you require but additional lead time and tooling charges may apply. The bend radii listed are standard minimum if manufacturing for aircraft and aerospace applications. It is most economical to use a single bend radius throughout the design but if necessary you can utilize multiple radii. Minimum sheet metal flange bend length is required to avoid cracks in the bending area.

The tool can calculate the required bending force for bending aluminum stainless steel mild steel and weldox or strenx high strength steels. The following tables showing the minimum bend radius allowable in air bending process for aluminum and steel or stainless steel. This tool allows you to determine tonnage internal radius v die opening and minimum flange you just have to insert the characteristics of the sheet metal to be bent. Since commercial sheet metal bending can be done with less concern for stresses caused during forming operation the radius can be near zero for thin sheet metal.

Recommended minimum bend radius for metal bending stainless steel and aluminum. Sheet metal bend brakes are used to bend material into the parts desired geometry. Thick grade 350 and 400 may have a minimum bend radius of 2 5 times the material thickness when transverse bending while longitudinal bending may require a minimum bend radius that s 3 75 times the material thickness see figure 1. Bends that are in the same plane need to be designed in the same direction to avoid part re orientation to save both money and time.

Use this document to choose values that are both manufacturable and meet your needs. Aluminum where necessary 5052 h32 may be bent to 1t and 6061 t6 to 1 1 2t. The minimum bend radius data shown in these charts is measured to the inside of the bend. Minimum hole diameter guidelines.

Each and every bend in a piece of sheet metal has a certain minimum internal radius that needs to be taken into account when planning the design of a sheet metal form. Sheet metal bend radii if these guidelines are not followed more research and or some form of analysis may be requried. Minimum sheet metal flange bend length 3 x sheet thickness bend radius. A general guideline the minimum metal bend radius is approximately equal to the material thickness.

In steel between 0 5 and 0 8 in.