How To Form Aluminum Sheet Metal

Sheet aluminum sheet and aluminum plate are essentially the same.

How to form aluminum sheet metal. The only true distinction is in their respective thickness. To bend sheet metal in a vice start by marking a line on the metal where you want to bend it. Millimetres mils gauge. If your sheet metal is long ask a friend to stabilize the part hanging out from the form blocks so it doesn t affect the bend.

Just like all sheet metal aluminum work hardens during the forming process. This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line. Sheet metal is any metal that has a thickness in between 0 5 6 millimetres. Make sure the edge of the material to be cut is approximately 1 2 to 1 away from the edges of the design.

There are other measurement units used to categorise metals by thickness though. Aluminum sheet is any aluminum sheet metal thicker than foil but thinner than 6mm. With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet. Sheet metal is one of the shapes and forms metal can be bought in.

Next place the wood parallel and slightly behind the bending line. Finally bend the sheet up by hand to the angle desired. It comes in many forms including diamond plate expanded perforated and painted aluminum sheet. If you want a sharp 90 bend tap along the crease with a mallet.

Welcome to the latest how to installment from jay roche at special 79 barnstorm cycles. Foils sheets and plates are pretty much the same with the only difference being in thickness. Draw design on craft paper. Clamp the wood on top of the metal to the workbench.

Next put your wooden or metal form blocks in the vice and clamp your sheet of metal between the forms. That is it gets stronger and harder by working bending it. Many different tools cut sheet metal and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. The design chosen for die forming should only be an outline of a form nothing intricate.

This tech tip is related to their sportster project but can be used on anything you might be working with that requires something built out of aluminum sheet.