Best Way To Bend Hobby Sized Aluminum Sheet

See how the face of the backstop slopes backward slightly.

Best way to bend hobby sized aluminum sheet.

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. Learn how to bend sheet metal so you can complete home and hobby projects easily without using a sheet metal brake. Step 3 sandwich the sheet metal into the jaws of the vise as well. Bending sheet metal by hand is a manageable task if the piece of sheet metal is small and thin enough to handle.

When bending aluminum know that the smaller your inside bend radius the larger the chance that cracking will occur in the part. Pull down on the lever to lower the anvil and bend the aluminum. This in turn will cause the aluminum to conform to the angle of the notch in the v block. Slide the angle iron into the jaws of the vise so that it lays flat the length of the piece of metal you are going to bend.

This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line. As the lever goes down the anvil will descend pressing the punch pipe into the aluminum at the bend line. The backstops bolt holes have a slot cut in them to allow the backstop to be slid back to allow for the thickness of the material to be bend. Time to bend or nearly.

Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards. When you re done simply remove the piece and wipe off the bend line. The two m10 bolts in the top are to clamp the sheet between the backstop and the base.