Titan fräsen und bohren

Titanium alloy machining characteristics and best practices

Titanium alloys offer the best strength-to-weight ratio of any metal but are notoriously difficult to machine. Low thermal conductivity, high strength at temperature, and chemical reactivity with tool materials present unique challenges. This guide covers the essential machining parameters.

• Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5): 22% machinability. The workhorse aerospace titanium. Speeds 45-100 m/min carbide. AlTiN or TiAlN coated. Sharp edges essential.
• Commercially Pure (CP) Titanium (Grade 1-4): 30-40% machinability. Softer but gummier than Ti-6Al-4V. Sharp, polished tools. Higher speeds (60-120 m/min) possible.
• Titanium chemical reactivity: at cutting temperatures, titanium reacts with most tool materials. Carbide dissolves in titanium at high speeds -- keep speeds conservative. PCD tools work well because diamond is chemically inert.
• Coolant strategy: through-tool coolant at 70+ bar absolutely essential. External coolant is inadequate -- it never reaches the cutting zone through the titanium's poor thermal conductivity.
• Chip control: titanium chips are thin (low thermal mass), so heat stays in the cutting zone. Use positive rake, sharp edges, and maintain feed to produce thicker chips that carry away more heat.

How to use this Titanium Machining Reference Guide

Use conservative speeds (45-100 m/min carbide in Ti-6Al-4V), moderate feeds (0.08-0.15 mm/tooth), sharp tools with positive rake, and through-tool coolant at 70+ bar. Never dwell on the surface. Rigid setups are essential -- titanium's low modulus means it deflects away from the tool, requiring extra care with workholding and tool stick-out.