Titanium CNC Machining —
Ti-6Al-4V, Grade 2 & More
Titanium offers the best strength-to-weight ratio of any structural metal — combined with outstanding corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. We specialise in aerospace and medical-grade titanium machining.
Why Choose Titanium?
Titanium offers a combination of properties found in no other metal: the strength of steel at roughly half the density, complete immunity to seawater and body-fluid corrosion, and a biocompatibility that allows it to integrate directly with bone and soft tissue. No other metal does all three simultaneously.
The challenge is machinability. Titanium has very low thermal conductivity, meaning heat generated during cutting stays concentrated at the tool tip rather than dispersing through the workpiece. This accelerates tool wear dramatically. Ginwate uses coolant-through carbide tooling, HSMWorks-optimised adaptive toolpaths, and grade-specific parameters refined over years of titanium production to maximise tool life and maintain precision.
Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) accounts for over 50% of all titanium usage globally. It is the starting point for most aerospace structural and medical device applications. Where implantable biocompatibility is the primary requirement, Grade 23 (ELI) provides tighter interstitial control per ASTM F136.
Titanium vs Steel vs Aluminum
Titanium Grades We Machine
Four titanium grades covering aerospace, medical, chemical processing and general industrial applications.
Commercially pure (CP) titanium — no alloying additions. Grade 2 offers the best corrosion resistance of all titanium grades, excellent formability and outstanding biocompatibility. Softer and easier to machine than alloys.
Ti-6Al-4V is the most widely used titanium alloy — 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium give it strength comparable to steel at just 56% of the density. It is the default choice for aerospace structural parts, high-performance motorsport, and medical devices requiring both strength and biocompatibility.
Extra Low Interstitial (ELI) variant of Ti-6Al-4V with tightly controlled oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and iron levels. Superior fracture toughness and crack propagation resistance for long-term implantable applications. The preferred choice for bone screws, spinal cages and dental implants.
A lower-strength alloy with excellent cold workability and weldability. Used extensively in tubing, bicycle frames, sports equipment and hydraulic tubing where moderate strength and low weight are required without the full cost of Grade 5.
Titanium Machining Specifications
Key properties for the three most commonly ordered titanium grades.
| Property | Grade 2 (CP) | Grade 5 (Ti-6-4) | Grade 23 (ELI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 4.51 g/cm³ | 4.43 g/cm³ | 4.43 g/cm³ |
| Tensile Strength | 344 MPa | 950 MPa | 930 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 275 MPa | 880 MPa | 860 MPa |
| Elongation | 20% | 14% | 15% |
| Machinability vs Steel | ~40% | ~25% | ~25% |
| Biocompatibility | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent (ELI) |
| Corrosion Resistance | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Max Service Temp. | 300°C | 315°C | 315°C |
Surface Finishes for Titanium
Titanium accepts a range of surface treatments that enhance its already exceptional properties.
As-Machined
Ra 1.6–3.2 μm. Bright titanium surface with visible tool marks. Suitable for non-cosmetic structural parts.
Bead Blasting
Uniform matte texture Ra 1.0–2.0 μm. Removes machining marks for consistent cosmetic finish on implants and aerospace.
Anodizing (Type II)
Titanium anodizing produces colour through optical interference — gold, blue, purple, green. Non-conductive, decorative. No plating agents used.
Polishing
Manual polishing to Ra <0.4 μm for implant-grade surfaces. Reduces stress risers on fatigue-critical titanium parts.
Passivation
Nitric acid or citric acid passivation per ASTM A967. Removes machining contamination and reinforces passive oxide layer.
PVD Coating
TiN, TiAlN, CrN physical vapor deposition. Adds 2–8 μm hard, wear-resistant coating without affecting titanium substrate biocompatibility.
Tumble Deburring
Mass media deburring and edge rounding. Removes sharp edges from machined holes and pockets without dimensional change.
Laser Marking
Permanent UDI, serial number, or logo engraving directly into titanium. Required for FDA Class II/III implant traceability.
Design Tips for Titanium Machining
Titanium is notoriously difficult to machine. These guidelines prevent tool wear issues, heat build-up, and dimensional inaccuracy.
- Titanium has very low thermal conductivity (~16 W/m·K vs 200 for aluminum) — heat concentrates at the cutting zone. Use flood coolant or through-spindle coolant; never run titanium dry.
- Built-up edge (BUE) is the primary failure mode when machining titanium. Use sharp carbide tools, high rake angles, and do not let the tool dwell stationary in the cut.
- Minimum wall thickness 1.0 mm for titanium — thinner walls flex and vibrate during cutting, producing chatter marks and out-of-tolerance features.
- Deep pockets (depth > 4× width) are challenging in titanium. Chip evacuation is critical — use peck cycles and copious coolant for deep features.
- Specify Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Grade 23) rather than Grade 5 for any implantable application — the interstitial control requirements are different and mill certs reflect ASTM F136 not F1108.
- Titanium spring-back is higher than steel — allow 5–10% overbend on any formed features. Discuss with our DFM team before machining bent-formed titanium.
Medical & Implant Grade Expertise
Ginwate machines implant-grade titanium to ASTM F136 and ISO 5832-3 standards with full traceability documentation.
Request Medical QuoteTitanium Anodizing
Titanium anodizing produces colour through optical interference — no dyes used. Used in surgical instruments for colour-coding by size.
Ask about anodizingCommon Applications
Titanium CNC parts serve the most demanding applications across aerospace, medical, and industrial sectors.
Related Services
Aluminum Machining
6061, 7075, 2024 — the fastest, most cost-effective material for most applications.
Stainless Steel
304, 316L, 17-4 PH — where corrosion resistance, food-safety or strength are critical.
5-Axis Machining
Complex titanium geometry — aerospace brackets, medical implants, turbine parts — in one setup.
Ready to Machine Titanium Parts?
Upload your CAD files and get a detailed titanium machining quote within 24 hours. No minimum order quantity.
