Neutron diffraction technique has been used in order to evaluate the residual stress distribution induced in AA6082 cylinders by different quenching rates and subsequent ageing treatments. Experiments have been performed at ISIS (UK) and ILL (France). Results show that samples submitted to slow quenching are essentially free of residual stresses. Samples submitted to rapid quenching show a compressive state near the surface and a tensile one in the bulk, as a result of the higher cooling rates of outer regions with respect to the inner ones.