/ MATERIALS / TITANIUM
Titanium CNC Machining — Ti-6Al-4V
Titanium is unforgiving. Low thermal conductivity, high cutting forces, tight tolerance requirements, and a material that reacts to almost everything that's wrong in setup. We machine it correctly the first time.
/ MATERIAL OVERVIEW
Ti-6Al-4V — Properties and Machining Characteristics
Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5 titanium) is the workhorse of aerospace structural machining. At a density roughly half that of steel with strength comparable to medium-grade steel, it delivers the strength-to-weight ratio that structural aerospace programs require. Typical applications include structural brackets, bulkheads, fuselage frames, landing gear components, and engine mount hardware.
Machining titanium is substantially different from machining aluminum. Titanium's thermal conductivity is approximately fourteen times lower than aluminum — heat generated during cutting does not dissipate into the chip. It stays in the tool and in the part. Cutting parameters must be dialed for the specific geometry and wall thickness being machined, not extrapolated from a generic titanium database.
- Density: 4.43 g/cm³ (approximately 56% of steel)
- Tensile strength (annealed): ~130,000 psi
- Tensile strength (STA): ~160,000 psi
- AMS material specification: AMS 4928 (bar and billet), AMS 4911 (sheet and plate)
/ APPLICATIONS
Titanium Aerospace Applications We Machine
Structural Hardware
Brackets, fittings, bulkheads, and frame sections for airframe structures. Structural titanium applications involve high material removal ratios, complex contoured geometry, and tight positional tolerances on fastener interfaces. 5-axis machining and rigid fixturing are essential for maintaining datum integrity through the full cutting process.
Engine-Adjacent Hardware
Titanium is used extensively in the forward engine section where temperature requirements are within the alloy's operating range and weight is critical. Nacelle structures, pylons, and mount brackets are representative applications.
Structural Applications
Titanium's strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance make it a primary structural material where mass reduction and durability are primary requirements. From airframe components to engine mounts, titanium delivers the performance characteristics that aluminum cannot match at elevated temperatures.
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/ QUOTE RESPONSE — 24HR AFTER SUBMISSION