Popular methods of bending aluminum extrusions are rotary draw bending, stretch bending, compression bending, and roller bending. Others are ram bending and free-form bending.

Rotary draw bending uses a rotating die that achieves accurate angles. It is ideal for larger aluminum extrusions.

Stretch bending is also referred to as tensile bending, a name related to the type of force that is predominant in this process. Its bending die may be expensive, but the process achieves different shapes without subjecting the extrusion to a lot of surface damage.

For compression bending, a compression die works together with a fixed bending die to achieve the desired profile. It is suitable for higher volumes, but the risk of deformation is high.

The roller bending method, as the name suggests, incorporates a set of rollers. It is one of the most common methods of bending aluminum extrusions.

While the ram bending method is probably the most straightforward, free-form bending is highly advanced.