Titanium CNC Machining Service
Tuowei Precision provides titanium CNC machining services for custom parts in commercially pure TA1 and TA2 and in the TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V) alloy. Our engineers review every drawing before the first cut on the machine, so heat, chatter and tool wear are planned for rather than discovered on the first part. From a single prototype to repeat production, upload your CAD file for a fast, itemized quote.
Why Titanium?
It is a strong metal that gives you steel-class strength at roughly 40% less weight, and it resists seawater, chlorides and most industrial chemicals without a coating. Those properties of titanium, especially its specific strength, explain why it is so widely used in aerospace brackets, medical device components, marine fittings and chemical processing hardware.
The trade-off is machinability. What makes titanium difficult to machine is heat: the metal conducts heat poorly, holds it at the cutting edge, work-hardens if the tool rubs, and costs more per kilogram than aluminum or stainless steel. Successful machining requires process control. Our machinists manage those factors with rigid workholding, the right tooling and high-pressure coolant, so custom titanium machining stays predictable from the first article to the last part in the batch.
| Available grades | TA1 (Grade 1), TA2 (Grade 2), TC4 / Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) |
| Price | $ |
| Lead time | Under 10 days |
| Wall thickness | 0.75 mm |
| Tolerances | ±0.125 mm (±0.005 in) |
| Max part size | 200 x 80 x 100 cm |
Choosing the Right Titanium Grade
Titanium and its alloys come in many different types of titanium grades, but most machined parts use one of the three high-quality titanium grades we stock for CNC mill and lathe work. Choose by the load the part carries and the environment it works in, not by strength alone. For a side-by-side comparison of the two most common grades, see Grade 2 vs Grade 5 titanium.
Titanium TA1 (Grade 1)
TA1 is the softest grade of commercially pure titanium. It has the lowest hardness, the highest ductility and the best formability of the three, plus excellent corrosion resistance, which suits chemical processing equipment, heat exchanger parts and thin sections that need light forming after machining. It is the easiest of the three to cut, but its low strength rules it out for structural load.
Titanium TA2 (Grade 2)
TA2 is the workhorse commercially pure grade. It is stronger than TA1, still welds well and keeps the same corrosion resistance, so it is the usual choice for pressure vessels, marine fittings, valve bodies and chemical plant hardware. If a part needs corrosion resistance more than strength, start with TA2 before paying for Ti-6Al-4V.
Titanium TC4 / Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5)
TC4, also called Ti-6Al-4V, contains about 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium and is the most widely used titanium alloy in machining. It is roughly three times as strong as TA2 and keeps good fatigue resistance at high temperatures, which is why it is specified for aerospace structures, engine components, high-load fasteners and medical devices. It is the hardest of the three to machine, so expect longer cycle times and a higher price per part.
Titanium Properties at a Glance
Typical published values for the three grades we stock. Figures are ASTM minimums and typical published values.
| Grade | Ultimate tensile | Tensile yield | Elongation | Hardness | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TA1 (Grade 1) | 240 MPa (35 ksi) | 170 MPa (25 ksi) | 24% | ~120 HB | 4.51 g/cm³ |
| TA2 (Grade 2) | 345 MPa (50 ksi) | 275 MPa (40 ksi) | 20% | ~150 HB | 4.51 g/cm³ |
| TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V) | 895–950 MPa (130–138 ksi) | 828 MPa (120 ksi) | 14% | 36 HRC | 4.43 g/cm³ |
Ti-6Al-4V hardness is also published as 32 HRC (Machining Doctor data sheet) — the value depends on condition. Machinability rating for Ti-6Al-4V is about 20%, against 100% for free-machining brass.
Where Titanium Wins — and Where It Doesn't
It solves problems that aluminum and steel cannot, but it brings its own costs. Weigh both lists before you commit a design to it, and read why titanium is difficult to machine if your part has thin walls or deep pockets; it includes practical tips for machining titanium.
- High strength-to-weight ratio: Ti-6Al-4V matches many alloy steels in strength at about 40% less weight, which matters in anything that flies, moves or is carried.
- Corrosion resistance: A stable oxide film protects the surface in seawater, chlorides and many acids, so parts often need no plating or paint.
- Biocompatibility: Suitable grades are common in medical device components and implants, provided the material certificate meets the specification your application requires.
- Fatigue resistance: Ti-6Al-4V holds up well under repeated load cycles, which suits brackets, fasteners and rotating titanium components.
- Low thermal expansion: It grows less with heat than aluminum or stainless steel, helping assemblies keep their fit across temperature swings.
- Non-magnetic: The metal is non-magnetic, which suits sensor housings and some diagnostic equipment parts.
- Keeps strength at high temperatures (Grade 5). Ti-6Al-4V keeps its strength where aluminum softens, which suits engine components and high-temperature parts.
- Low thermal conductivity: Heat during cutting stays in the cutting zone instead of leaving with the chip, which wears the cutting tool and end mill quickly. We counter it with controlled cutting: through-spindle cooling and lower cutting speeds paired with a heavier feed.
- Work hardening and chatter: If the tool rubs instead of cutting, the surface hardens and the next pass suffers. Rigid fixturing, climb milling and a constant chip load, often with 5-axis milling on 5-axis machining setups that reach several faces in one clamping, plus plunge milling for deep pockets, keep cutting forces steady.
- Chemical reactivity: Overheated chips can react with tool material and form a brittle surface layer. Proper cutting conditions, sharp cutting edges and TiAlN (titanium aluminum nitride) coated carbide and conservative cutting parameters prevent it.
- Higher material and tooling cost: Stock and tooling cost more than aluminum or steel, and every machining operation runs slower. Compared with traditional machining materials, titanium requires more planning, and a design for manufacturability (DFM) review before quoting often removes features that add machine time without adding function.
- Slow to machine: Low cutting speeds and high tool wear mean longer cycle times than aluminum or steel.
- Needs rigid workholding and a written process plan: Every job needs a plan for heat, chatter and tool wear before the first cut.
Partner with Tuowei Precision to Shape Your Vision
From rapid prototypes to scalable production, Tuowei Precision delivers reliable CNC machining with accuracy and consistency at every step. Start your project today.
- Established engineering skills.
- Global project support
- Advanced CNC solutions
- Co-creation of products.
- Expandable capacity of production.
- All uploads are secure and confidential
Machining Titanium: Speeds, Feeds and Tooling
Titanium is cut slowly on purpose. For Ti-6Al-4V, published machining data puts typical cutting speeds around 150–200 surface feet per minute with sharp carbide tools — far slower than aluminum — because most of the cutting heat stays at the tool edge instead of leaving with the chip. High-pressure coolant, rigid workholding and a steady feed matter more than raw speed.
Never let the tool dwell or rub: titanium work-hardens fast, and a rubbing tool is the quickest way to kill an edge and scrap a part. Climb milling, light depths of cut and fresh, sharp edges keep the cut predictable. Every job starts with a written process plan, and finished parts ship with inspection data on request.
What Is the Best Tool for Machining Titanium?
The best tool for machining titanium is a sharp, coated carbide end mill or insert, replaced before it dulls. Carbide holds its edge at the low speeds titanium needs, while a dull tool work-hardens the surface and wears fast. Use climb milling, light depths of cut and high-pressure coolant, with a steady feed so the tool always cuts. Makino’s machining-titanium guide covers the same tooling approach in detail.
How Does CNC Machining Titanium Work?
CNC machining titanium works like other CNC machining, with tighter process control. Our engineers review the drawing, write a process plan that sets the tooling, speeds and coolant, then mill or turn the part in small, steady cuts so heat stays under control. Finished parts are inspected against the drawing before they ship, with inspection data on request. See our CNC machining services for the full process, from quote to inspection.
Where Titanium Parts Are Used
Titanium earns its place where strength, weight and corrosion all matter at once. These are the typical applications.
- Aerospace: brackets, engine components, airframe and space capsule parts, high-load fasteners.
- Medical: surgical equipment, instrument parts and implant components (Grade 5).
- Marine: fittings, valve bodies and hardware in seawater service.
- Chemical processing: pressure vessels, heat exchangers and plant hardware.
- Automotive and motorsport: performance parts where weight saving pays.
- Defense and military: structural and hardware parts.
What Makes Titanium Machining Expensive?
Three things set the price: the material, the cutting time and the tooling. Titanium costs more per kilogram than aluminum or stainless steel, it cuts far slower than aluminum, and it wears tools faster, so cycle times are longer and tool cost is higher. The written process plan and inspection data add time too — they are the reason the first article matches the last part.
The way to control cost is to design for it: keep walls thick enough to machine without deflection, avoid deep pockets where you can, and only tighten tolerances where the part truly needs them. Upload your CAD file for a fast, itemized quote and our engineers will flag the cost-driving features before you commit.
Titanium CNC Machining Tolerances
| Feature Type | Typical Tolerance |
|---|---|
| General Dimensional Tolerance | ±0.025 mm (±0.001″) |
| High Precision Tolerance | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002″) |
| Hole Diameter (Drilled) | ±0.05 mm (±0.002″) |
| Hole Diameter (Reamed/Bored) | ±0.01 mm (±0.0004″) |
| Shaft Diameter (Turned) | ±0.01 mm (±0.0004″) |
| Flatness | 0.02 mm per 100 mm |
| Parallelism | ±0.02 mm |
| Perpendicularity | ±0.02 mm |
| Surface Roughness (Ra) | 1.6–3.2 μm (63–125 μin) |
| Positional Tolerance | ±0.01 mm to ±0.02 mm |
| Thread Tolerance (Cut) | 6H / 6g (ISO) or Class 2A/2B (ANSI) |
| Minimum Feature Size | 0.5 mm (0.020″) |
| Repeatability | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002″) |
Reviewed by Leon Xu, Engineer, Tuowei Precision. Last updated: October 2026.
Titanium Machining FAQs
Can titanium be CNC machined?
Yes. Titanium machines well on CNC mills and lathes with the right approach — sharp carbide tools, low cutting speeds, high-pressure coolant and rigid workholding. It is slower and more demanding than aluminum, which is why every job starts with a written process plan.
Is titanium easily machinable?
No — titanium is one of the harder metals to machine. Its machinability rating is only about 20%, it holds heat at the cutting edge, and it work-hardens if the tool rubs. With the right tooling, coolant and process plan it machines predictably, but never as fast as aluminum.
What makes titanium difficult to machine?
Low thermal conductivity, work hardening and tool wear. Most cutting heat stays at the tool edge instead of leaving with the chip, the surface work-hardens if the tool rubs or dwells, and the metal’s strength wears tools fast. Sharp carbide tools, low speeds, high-pressure coolant and rigid workholding keep it under control.
What is the most difficult metal to machine?
There is no single hardest metal — it depends on the job — but titanium is often named among the most difficult metals machined in everyday CNC work. Its machinability rating is only about 20%, against 100% for free-machining brass, because it holds heat at the cutting edge and work-hardens if the tool rubs.
What is the best tool for machining titanium?
A sharp, coated carbide end mill or insert, replaced before it dulls. Carbide holds its edge at the low speeds titanium needs, while a dull tool work-hardens the surface and wears fast. Use climb milling, light depths of cut and high-pressure coolant, with a steady feed so the tool always cuts instead of rubbing.
Is machining titanium expensive?
Yes, relative to aluminum and steel. The material costs more per kilogram, cutting speeds are far lower, and tool wear is higher — so cycle times are longer. The cost is justified where the part needs titanium’s strength-to-weight ratio or corrosion resistance.
What is the difference between Grade 2 and Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) titanium?
Grade 2 is commercially pure titanium: excellent corrosion resistance and ductility, with a minimum tensile strength of 345 MPa. Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is an alloy with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium: roughly three times as strong, with a minimum tensile strength of 895 MPa, but harder to machine and less ductile. Choose Grade 2 for corrosion, Grade 5 for load.
What finishes are available for machined titanium parts?
Common finishes for titanium include as-machined, bead blasting, anodizing (Type II), passivation and polishing. Anodizing (Type II) typically adds corrosion resistance, lower friction and color with almost no weight gain, while passivation and polishing suit parts that need a clean, passive surface. Which finishes are available for a given part depends on the shop and the part, so confirm availability when you request a quote.
What is the downside of titanium for machined parts?
Cost and machining difficulty. Titanium costs more per kilogram than aluminum or stainless steel, cuts slowly, wears tools fast and work-hardens if the tool rubs. It also needs rigid workholding and a written process plan for every job. For parts that do not need its strength or corrosion resistance, aluminum or steel is the cheaper choice.
Which titanium grade should I choose for my part?
Choose TA2 when corrosion resistance matters more than strength, such as marine fittings or chemical equipment. Choose TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V) when the part carries real load, such as aerospace brackets or fasteners. TA1 suits thin parts that need forming. Our engineers match your drawing to the various grades of titanium we stock and the machining methods each needs.
What cutting speed and RPM do you use for Ti alloys?
We typically run it between 35 and 65 m/min surface speed (115 to 215 SFM), with spindle speeds around 1,200 to 2,800 revolutions per minute (RPM) depending on tool diameter, grade and machining operations. Lower speed with higher feed keeps heat down, protects the tool and holds accuracy on precision components.
What are your typical titanium applications?
Our machined titanium parts serve aerospace, medical devices, the automotive industry, robotics, energy and chemical processing. Typical CNC parts include brackets, housings, fittings, fasteners and manifolds. As one of the titanium machining companies offering computer numerical control machining and precision manufacturing in-house, we supply inspection reports and material certifications on request.