Titanium CNC Machining

Titanium for CNC Machining — Where It Wins

Titanium's case is simple: it delivers the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any practical structural metal, resists corrosion in almost any environment including seawater and body fluids, and is biocompatible. No other commonly machined metal does all three. The cost and difficulty of machining are the tradeoff — titanium work-hardens rapidly, generates heat at the tool tip, and requires careful tooling selection and slower speeds. At EKINSUN we machine Ti-6Al-4V and Grade 2 CP titanium routinely, and can handle the difficult machining conditions this material demands.

Titanium Grades We Machine

Grade	Designation	Key properties	Best for
Grade 5	Ti-6Al-4V	620–900 MPa UTS, lightweight, heat-treatable	Aerospace brackets, motorsport fasteners, performance components — the most machined titanium alloy
Grade 2	CP Titanium (commercially pure)	~340–480 MPa UTS, maximum corrosion resistance, biocompatible	Marine, chemical processing, medical implants, orthopedic parts
Grade 9	Ti-3Al-2.5V	Moderate strength, better weldability	Hydraulic tubing, bicycle frames, aerospace fluid lines

Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) accounts for ~50% of all titanium used in manufacturing. It is our default recommendation unless you specifically need the higher corrosion resistance of CP Ti Grade 2.

Mechanical Properties (Grade 5, Ti-6Al-4V)

Property	Typical value (annealed)
Ultimate tensile strength	950 MPa (138,000 psi)
Yield strength (0.2%)	880 MPa (128,000 psi)
Elongation at break	~14%
Hardness	~36 HRC
Density	4.43 g/cm³ (57% of steel)
Elastic modulus	114 GPa
Thermal conductivity	~7 W/m·K (low — heat builds at tool)
Biocompatibility	Yes (ASTM F136 for implants)
Relative machinability	~22% vs steel reference

How We Machine Titanium

Titanium's low thermal conductivity means heat generated in the cut concentrates at the tool tip rather than dispersing into the chip. The strategy is: sharp tooling, high coolant pressure directly at the cut, moderate speeds, and generous chip clearance. Practical notes:

• Tolerances: ±0.025 mm on critical features; general dimensions to ISO 2768-m or finer with dedicated setups.
• Tooling: PVD-coated carbide (TiAlN preferred); sharp cutting edges at all times — a worn tool on titanium produces rapid work hardening.
• Coolant: High-pressure flood cooling mandatory — heat removal is critical; dry machining is not viable.
• Speed: Lower than aluminium — roughly 60–120 m/min for Grade 5 — with higher feed per tooth to keep the tool cutting through material rather than rubbing and heat-building.
• Lead time: Titanium machining takes longer than aluminium or steel — we factor this into the quote and timeline.

Surface Treatment for Titanium

• Colour anodizing — titanium anodizes to produce interference colours (gold, blue, purple, green) without dye, by controlling oxide thickness with voltage. Hardness improves slightly.
• Bead blast — uniform matte surface before anodize or as a final finish
• Passivation — titanium is self-passivating and rarely needs additional passivation
• PVD coating — TiN or TiAlN for extreme wear applications (tooling, dies)
• As-machined — acceptable for structural applications; surface is naturally corrosion-resistant

Typical Titanium CNC Parts

• Aerospace & motorsport fasteners — bolts, studs, lockwire-drilled hex bolts
• Performance brackets and mounts — weight-critical structural parts
• Marine fittings — through-hulls, seacocks, deck hardware (Grade 2 for maximum seawater resistance)
• Medical implants and instruments — Grade 2 CP or Grade 23 (ELI) for surgical implants
• Custom motorcycle bolts — our titanium bolts page covers this in detail
• Bicycle components — stems, handlebar clamps, dropout hardware
• Chemical processing parts — pump impellers and valve bodies in corrosive media

Titanium vs Steel vs Aluminium

	Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5)	17-4 PH Stainless	7075-T6 Aluminium
Yield strength	880 MPa	1170 MPa	503 MPa
Density	4.43 g/cm³	7.78 g/cm³	2.81 g/cm³
Strength/Weight	Highest	Moderate	High
Corrosion resistance	Excellent	Very good	Good (anodized)
Cost	High	Moderate–High	Lower

Choose titanium when both high strength and low weight are required simultaneously, or when corrosion resistance in aggressive environments (seawater, body fluids, chemical) is mandatory and aluminium is not acceptable.

Frequently Asked Questions