Ti-6Al-4V — Grade 5, or TC4 in the Chinese designation — is the workhorse titanium: about 950 MPa tensile at 4.43 g/cm³, with excellent corrosion resistance. It is also the material that punishes optimism. Low thermal conductivity keeps heat in the cut, and that heat goes into the tool rather than the chip.
| Tensile strength | 950 MPa |
|---|---|
| Yield strength | 880 MPa |
| Hardness | 36 HRC |
| Density | 4.43 g/cm³ |
| Elongation | 14% |
| Thermal conductivity | 6.7 W/m·K |
| Series | Alpha-beta titanium alloy |
Typical values for the standard condition (Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V)). Heat treatment, temper and product form move these numbers — confirm against the mill certificate for your order.
Excellent strength-to-weight ratio: 950 MPa at 4.43 g/cm³
Outstanding corrosion resistance, including in seawater and body fluids
Biocompatible, which is why medical implants use it
Retains strength at elevated temperatures better than aluminum
Starting parameters for carbide tooling. These are the shop's working numbers, not brochure values — adjust for machine rigidity, tool geometry and workholding.
| Surface speed | 30–60 m/min |
|---|---|
| Feed per tooth | 0.05–0.12 mm/tooth |
| Tooling | Sharp uncoated or AlTiN carbide; positive rake; never a worn tool |
| Coolant | High-pressure flood, directed at the cutting edge |
Low thermal conductivity means heat stays in the cut and in the tool, so tool life collapses if speeds are pushed. Conservative speeds, sharp edges and generous coolant are not optional. Never run a worn tool on titanium — it work-hardens the surface and can ignite chips.
Material is expensive and cutting speeds are roughly a tenth of aluminum, so machining time dominates the price. Tool wear is also high. Titanium parts are justified by weight and corrosion requirements, not by cost.
For the full cost structure — material, programming, setup, cycle time, finishing and inspection — see CNC machining cost per hour, and for how price changes with quantity see machining by production volume.
Three reasons: the material costs several times more than aluminum, cutting speeds are roughly a tenth as fast, and tool life is short because heat concentrates at the cutting edge. A titanium part can easily cost three to four times the same geometry in aluminum, and most of that is machining time rather than material.
Titanium chips and fines can ignite, and a titanium fire is extremely difficult to extinguish — water makes it worse. The practical controls are generous coolant, keeping chips cleared, never machining with a worn tool, and following established shop procedures for titanium. This is standard practice in any shop that machines it regularly.
Yes, but differently from aluminum. Titanium anodizing is a thin oxide layer produced by voltage-controlled anodizing, which creates color through interference rather than dye. Type II and Type III processes exist for titanium with their own specifications — do not assume an aluminum anodizing spec applies.
Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is the high-strength alloy — about 950 MPa — used for structural and load-bearing parts. Grade 2 is commercially pure, around 345 MPa, softer and more formable, used where corrosion resistance and ductility matter more than strength. Grade 2 is also easier to machine, though still slow.
Tell us the grade and temper, the quantity and what the part has to do. You get a line-item quote within 24 hours, with DFM feedback on anything that is raising the cost.