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.

As the lever goes down the anvil will descend pressing the punch pipe into the aluminum at the bend line. With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet. 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. When bending aluminum know that the smaller your inside bend radius the larger the chance that cracking will occur in the part.

When you re done simply remove the piece and wipe off the bend line. Step 3 sandwich the sheet metal into the jaws of the vise as well. This in turn will cause the aluminum to conform to the angle of the notch in the v block. Pull down on the lever to lower the anvil and bend the aluminum.

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. The two m10 bolts in the top are to clamp the sheet between the backstop and the base. Bending sheet metal by hand is a manageable task if the piece of sheet metal is small and thin enough to handle. Time to bend or nearly.

Learn how to bend sheet metal so you can complete home and hobby projects easily without using a sheet metal brake. As you bend it the metal will be heading towards you. This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line.