Titanium CNC Machining
Grade 2 and Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) — aerospace brackets and medical components, machined on rigid 3- and 5-axis equipment and verified on CMM. Titanium machining services with mill certificates on every order.
Strength at Half the Weight — at a Real Cost
Titanium CNC machining buys you steel-class strength at roughly 55% of the weight, plus corrosion resistance that outlasts stainless. What it doesn't buy is speed: titanium's low thermal conductivity keeps heat at the cutting edge, and its tendency to gall eats tools that run too fast or too dull. We quote titanium honestly, machine it on rigid 3- and 5-axis equipment, and verify the geometry on CMM before anything ships. If you're comparing titanium quotes, ask every shop how they tool it — the cheap quote usually assumes aluminum parameters and a prayer.
Titanium Grades We Machine
- Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) — the workhorse, roughly half of all titanium use. Yield ~120 ksi (830 MPa), excellent strength-to-weight, the default for aerospace brackets, high-performance fasteners, and structural components
- Grade 23 (Ti-6Al-4V ELI) — extra-low-interstitial variant of Grade 5 with better fracture toughness; the standard for medical implants and surgical hardware
- Grade 2 (commercially pure) — softer, more formable, outstanding corrosion resistance; chemical-processing and marine components, and parts that will be welded or formed after machining
- Grades 1, 4, 9 — on request
Material certificates with full chemistry are available on every titanium order — just ask on the RFQ.
Machining Titanium: What Actually Matters
Everything in titanium machining follows from two facts: heat stays in the tool, and the material galling-welds to anything that rubs it.
- Low surface speed, high feed — carbide typically at 150–300 SFM (45–90 m/min) with feed kept above the minimum chip load. Slow and firm, never fast and light
- Low radial engagement — high-efficiency toolpaths with small stepovers and deep axial cuts spread wear along the flute instead of concentrating it at the tip
- Sharp, coated carbide — tools get replaced on schedule, not on failure; a dull edge in titanium means heat, work hardening, and a scrapped part
- Maximum rigidity — short tools, hydraulic or shrink-fit holders, and conservative setups; titanium's springiness turns vibration into chatter instantly
- High-pressure flood coolant — continuous delivery into the cut; dry or marginally cooled titanium machining is a fire risk and a tool-life disaster
- No dwelling — the tool never pauses in contact; work-hardened titanium can be nearly unmachinable
Expect cycle times 3–5× aluminum for equivalent geometry, and tooling cost per part that reflects real insert consumption. That's why our titanium quotes come with DFM notes — small drawing changes (larger radii, shallower pockets, relieved corners) routinely cut titanium part cost by 20–30%.
Tolerances and Surface Finishes
General features hold ±0.005 in (±0.13 mm); critical bores and true-position callouts to ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm), verified on CMM with GD&T reporting. As-machined finish Ra 3.2 µm (125 µin), to Ra 0.8 µm (32 µin) where the drawing requires.
Finishes: passivation, titanium anodizing (color and Type 2 wear), bead blast, polishing, and laser marking. Most aerospace parts ship as-machined or bead-blasted per drawing.
Typical Titanium Parts
Aerospace structural brackets and fittings, medical device and implant-adjacent components (Grade 23), high-performance fasteners, racing and motorsport hardware, and marine components. Compound-angle weight-reduction work routes to our 5-axis machines. See aerospace CNC machining and medical CNC machining.
What to Specify on the Drawing
Call out the grade with its full designation (Ti-6Al-4V per AMS 4928 or ASTM B348, not just “titanium”), and state whether material certs with chemistry are required — they change how we buy stock. Mark critical-to-function dimensions and GD&T callouts clearly; we inspect those on CMM and report them. Avoid sharp internal corners and deep thin pockets where you can, and put a real radius value on the print — every fillet you open up reduces tool wear and your part price.
Titanium Machining — Capability Summary
| Capability | Specification |
|---|---|
| Grades machined | Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Grade 23 ELI, Grade 2 CP; others on request |
| General tolerance | ±0.005 in (±0.13 mm); precision features to ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) |
| Equipment | Rigid 3-axis and 5-axis machining centers, live-tooling lathes |
| As-machined finish | Ra 3.2 µm (125 µin); to Ra 0.8 µm (32 µin) on request |
| Finishes | Passivation, titanium anodizing, bead blast, polishing, laser marking |
| Documentation | Material certs with chemistry; CMM reports with GD&T |
| Typical lead time | Prototypes from 7 days; production typically 3–4 weeks |
Quote Your Titanium Parts
Upload STEP files and drawings — pricing, lead time, and DFM feedback within 1–2 business days. Full alloy list on the materials page.
Quote Your Titanium Parts
Upload STEP files and drawings — pricing, lead time, and DFM feedback within 1–2 business days.
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