Machining titanium cost-effectively requires special attention to the distinctive features of this material – particularly for choosing the right tools.
Text & Images by Arno Werkzeuge
Anyone who has ever machined the superalloy titanium knows that it can be a real diva, requiring special care and attention. Chips that won’t break, heat that won’t dissipate, and built-up edges are some of the common ways in which titanium puts up a fight during machining. However, titanium’s remarkable properties make it a favourite in aviation, motorsport, and medical technology, so it is worth learning how to machine it properly.
You never know when a renowned sports car manufacturer will need to place an order for titanium screws. Whether or not the chemist Martin Heinrich Klapproth named the titanium element after the deities from Greek mythology because of its god-like properties is unclear. But the fact is that its properties make it a superalloy. Extremely tension-proof, very light, and outstandingly resistant to corrosion, titanium offers something other materials and alloys don’t. In addition, titanium is antimagnetic, biocompatible, and resistant to even the most aggressive media. As a result, this expensive material is becoming popular in more fields and applications. It’s no secret to the engineers at Bugatti, who use many titanium parts in their work.
