Cutting speeds, feeds, tooling and coolant for Ti-6Al-4V and commercially pure titanium, plus the heat and chip behaviour that makes titanium slow to machine.
Complete reference tables and engineering data for titanium guide. All values verified against ISO, ANSI, and manufacturer standards.
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.
(1) Extremely low thermal conductivity (7 W/mK vs 50 W/mK for steel) -- heat cannot escape through the chip or workpiece, concentrating at the tool tip. (2) High strength retention at temperature -- titanium doesn't soften ahead of the tool. (3) Chemical reactivity -- titanium dissolves carbide at cutting temperatures (diffusion wear). (4) Low elastic modulus -- the workpiece springs away from the tool, requiring rigid setups and sharp tools to maintain dimensional accuracy.
Fine-grain carbide (0.5-0.8 um grain size) with 6-8% cobalt. Sharp, uncoated, or AlTiN PVD-coated edges. CVD coatings are generally NOT recommended for titanium -- the coating deposition process rounds the edge slightly, and titanium needs the sharpest possible edge. Uncoated carbide with a polished rake face often outperforms coated carbide in titanium because the sharp edge cuts cleaner.
Generally not recommended. Ceramic tools react chemically with titanium at cutting temperatures. CBN also reacts. PCD works well for finishing because diamond is chemically inert, but PCD is expensive and fragile. Whisker-reinforced ceramics (SiAlON) have shown promise in rough turning of titanium but require very rigid machines and uninterrupted cuts.
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.
Continue with closely related resources from the machining reference library.
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CUTTING TITANIUM? Titanium punishes grade and edge-preparation errors immediately, with no margin for a substituted substrate. Our routine is in how we vet a carbide factory before ordering.
We source carbide cutting tools from China for job shops. We do not own a factory, which is why we can quote your drawing against two or three plants that actually run your material.
Cutting formulas with the units worked through · Speed and feed starting points for all six ISO material groups · How to read a carbide grade past its ISO code. 12 pages.
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