Induction Heating and subsequent bending of 2024

**design123** · 08-04-2012, 04:20 PM

Hi,
We manufacture at our company, a 2024 strip like part (length=90 mm, W = 16 mm, Thickness = 2 mm) that is bent by 90 deg into an L - shape at particular position.
So far we have been using the method of using a blue lamp to heat the part (after final machining) and then using a die and hammer to bend it to a 90 deg position. however the problem with this is a lot of rejections ( almost 50 %) of parts due to primarily cracking of the material at the corners of the bend.
We believe this is due to improper heating of the part and thus are thinking of using induction heating process in some way.
Need ideas and suggestions in this regard!
Thanks.

**bjorn toulouse** · 08-04-2012, 04:36 PM

What is the radius of the 90 degree bend?

Rex

**design123** · 08-06-2012, 11:26 AM

roughly 2-3mm from the outside. even lesser from the inside

**310 Guy** · 08-06-2012, 01:34 PM

If you are bending a 2mm thick part, with a 2 mm outside radius, that means the inside radius is zero. Not going to happen with 2024. Open up the inside radius to 8mm (4xthickness) and you MIGHT get it to work. And BTW, if you are heating the part enough to bend it, you just annealed it at the bend. Annealed = no strength.

Find another alloy or find another process. 2024 + bending = bad idea.