Flattening warped metal

**Eventorizon** · 12th August 2013, 09:50

The sheet of 4mm Hardox 500 I have for my armour has a significant bend to it, in both directions. Are there any reliable ways of flattening it ready for water jet cutting.

I had thought of heating it up to 230C (Far away from the transition temperature so its in no danger of changing the properties) in an oven and letting it settle or is it a case of add weight and wait?

**maddox10** · 12th August 2013, 11:03

Heating it to 230° won't help a bit, as you write it's inside the parameters of the metal, and won't temporary soften it , nor remove springiness.
You'll need serious power to straighten it.

**teamstorm** · 12th August 2013, 19:21

Get a new piece of metal ;-)

**Mouldy** · 13th August 2013, 06:49

Get the parts cut, then straighten them in the fly press at the factory, will be acurate enough for what your doing. Most hardox sheets ive seen are slightly bent.