Minimum Bend Radius Sheet Metal Metric
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.
Minimum bend radius sheet metal metric. Sheet metal bend radii if these guidelines are not followed more research and or some form of analysis may be requried. Bend radii minimum bend sizes. The thickness of the metal. Use this document to choose values that are both manufacturable and meet your needs.
Generally speaking the thicker a piece of sheet metal is the wider the internal bend radius will have to be. At the minimum draw an internal radius of 0 5 sheet thickness in order to prevent problems with corners. Discover all our calculation tools in the calculators section of the top menu. Recommended minimum bend radii for steel and aluminum.
Bend radii minimum bend sizes. When designing sheet metal parts and enclosures it is helpful to use these values as the basis for your design. It shall be equal to three times of sheet thickness plus bend radius. In steel between 0 5 and 0 8 in.
When the sheet metal is put through the process of bending the metal around the bend is deformed and stretched. 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. 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.
Minimum hole diameter guidelines. The minimum bend radius data shown in these charts is measured to the inside of the bend. As this happens you gain a small amount of total length in your part. Similarly the harder a piece of metal is the more room.
There are a two major factors that affect how tight you can make the internal radius of a bend in a piece of sheet metal. The internal radius is determined by the tools in conjunction with the material properties. The hardness of the metal. Bend radii and minimum bends are limited to certain values or ranges which are determined by the equipment and tooling combinations available to the manufacturer.
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. Specifing a bend radius from here will help prevent hair line cracks. The minimum inside bend radius is even larger when bending with the grain. Understanding the bend allowance and consequently the bend deduction of a part is a crucial first step to understanding how sheet metal parts are fabricated.
Table 1 preferred recommended 90 degree bend radii for various sheet metals. Sophia will adjust the radii drawn in order to retain the shape of the final product.