CNC Routing Titanium

CNC Routing Titanium from VT machining delivers precision Titanium parts produced to your exact drawing. CNC routing cuts profiles and openings in sheet and plate at high feed rates with a rotating router bit, and we tune every parameter to the behaviour of Titanium, which is high strength-to-weight, biocompatible, corrosion resistant.

CNC Routing Titanium at VT machining
CNC Routing Titanium — produced in-house at VT machining

CNC Routing Capability for Titanium

  • High-feed profiling
  • Sheet and plate stock
  • Nested-part layouts
  • Edge tolerance ±0.1 mm

Titanium Material Data

Titanium — typical properties, quoted for Ti-6Al-4V (Gr 5)
Density4.43 g/cm³
Tensile strength950 MPa
Yield strength (0.2%)880 MPa
Hardness334 HB / 36 HRC
Melting point1604–1660 °C
Thermal conductivity6.7 W/m·K
Thermal expansion8.6 ×10⁻⁶/K
Electrical conductivity3.1%
Machinability (C36000 = 100%)22%
Grades we runGr 1, Gr 2 (CP), Gr 5 Ti-6Al-4V, Gr 23 ELI, Gr 7, Gr 9

Published typical values for Ti-6Al-4V (Gr 5). Other grades in the family differ — the certificate supplied with your order carries the actual heat-lot figures.

Machining Titanium — what actually causes trouble

Heat has nowhere to go — thermal conductivity is 1/25th of aluminium, so it all goes into the tool. Low surface speed, heavy feed, flood coolant, and the cutter never stops moving.

How CNC Routing Titanium Works

Rotating multi-flute cutters remove material as the Titanium workpiece is driven through programmed tool paths on 3-, 4- or 5-axis machining centres. Climb milling, step-over and depth-of-cut are set so chip load stays in the ideal band for the alloy.

We start from your supplied geometry and tolerance scheme. The setup is designed to minimise re-clamping, which protects positional accuracy across features. A first article is verified against the drawing before the balance of the batch is released.

Achievable Tolerances for CNC Routing Titanium

CNC Routing Titanium — achievable tolerances
FeatureStandardPrecision
Linear dimension (< 100 mm)±0.05 mm±0.010 mm
Linear dimension (100–300 mm)±0.10 mm±0.025 mm
Hole diameter (reamed)H9H7
True position of hole pattern±0.10 mm±0.025 mm
Flatness over 100 mm0.05 mm0.015 mm
Perpendicularity0.10 mm0.020 mm
Surface finish, as machinedRa 1.6 µmRa 0.4 µm

Standard is what a normal quotation assumes. Precision is available on nominated features and is priced separately, because it needs extra setups, in-process gauging and CMM verification. Call out only the features that need it — blanket-tightening a drawing is the single most common reason a quote comes back expensive.

CNC Routing Tolerances & Surface Finish

For CNC Routing, dimensional and positional tolerances around ±0.01 mm are routine, tightening toward ±0.005 mm on precision setups. Surface finish on machined faces typically falls in the Ra 0.4–1.6 µm range depending on tooling and pass strategy.

The tightest tolerances are reserved for the features your drawing flags as critical. Share your tolerance scheme and we will confirm what is realistic before quoting.

Design Tips for CNC Routing Titanium

Small design adjustments often cut cost and lead time. Generous internal radii, sensible pocket depth-to-width ratios and avoiding very thin unsupported walls all reduce cost and improve accuracy in Titanium. If you send your model early, we will return practical DFM feedback before you commit to production.

CNC Routing Quality & Inspection

Quality is built in, not inspected on. We monitor key features during the run and confirm them at final inspection, with CMM verification available for tight tolerances. We provide the inspection and traceability records your quality system requires.

Secondary Operations & Finishing

Most Titanium parts need some finishing, which we manage in-house or through vetted partners. Options include deburring and edge-breaking, heat treatment, surface grinding, polishing, and plating or anodising for corrosion resistance and appearance. Give us the finished-part requirement and we will sequence every operation correctly.

Working with Titanium

Titanium is high strength-to-weight, biocompatible, corrosion resistant. We translate those properties into a process plan: the right tooling, speeds, feeds and fixturing for the alloy.

Where the grade, temper or heat-treat condition matters to performance, we confirm it with you and can supply material certificates. Material is procured to recognised standards for consistent, repeatable results.

Applications of CNC Routing Titanium

Titanium parts made this way are found throughout aerospace, medical, automotive, electronics and industrial equipment. Prototype, bridge and production volumes are all welcome.

How to Order CNC Routing Titanium

Starting your project takes one email. Send your CAD or 2D drawing, the Titanium grade and condition, the quantity and any finish or inspection requirements. We respond quickly with price, lead time and any DFM notes, in clear English.

Parts We Have Run in Titanium

Three representative CNC Routing Titanium jobs, with the callouts that actually drove the process plan. Yours will differ — these are here so you can judge whether your part is in our range before you spend time on an RFQ.

Manifold block

Material
Titanium
Size
120 × 60 × 45 mm
Key callouts
Cross-bore intersection ±0.05 mm, ports G1/8", leak-tested to 10 bar
Batch
80 pcs

Deburred internally with a brush tool; a burr at a cross-bore is what fails the leak test.

Heat sink base

Material
Titanium
Size
200 × 100 × 8 mm
Key callouts
Fin thickness 1.2 ±0.05 mm, base flatness 0.03 mm
Batch
500 pcs

Fins cut with a slotting cutter in one pass to avoid the deflection a step-over leaves.

Optical mount plate

Material
Titanium
Size
160 × 160 × 12 mm
Key callouts
Hole pattern true position ±0.02 mm, flatness 0.01 mm
Batch
40 pcs

Roughed, stress-relieved overnight, then finished — the plate is too thin to hold flatness in one hit.

Finishing Options for Titanium

Finishing options available with this material
FinishThickness / effectWhy it gets specified
Type II anodiseColour coding, biocompatible
Type III anodiseAnti-galling for threaded and sliding parts
PassivationASTM F86 for implant-grade parts
Electropolish5–20 µm removedRemoves the machining layer for medical use
Deburr / edge break0.05–0.3 mmAll parts unless the drawing says otherwise
Bead blastRa 1.6–3.2 µmUniform matt finish, hides tool marks
Laser markingPart number, lot code, data matrix
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No drawing yet? Build one in the browser.

Set the metal, dimensions and features, watch the 3D model update as you type, then switch to the 2D sheet to add dimensions and tolerances. Download it or send it straight to us with your RFQ.

Open the 3D + 2D Builder

What We Need to Quote CNC Routing Titanium

  • GeometrySTEP or IGES for the 3D model, plus a PDF drawing if you have tolerance callouts. A dimensioned sketch is enough to start.
  • MaterialThe exact Titanium grade and condition — temper, heat-treat state or hardness. If you are not sure, tell us the function and we will suggest one.
  • QuantityPrototype count and the expected annual volume. Both change how the part is made and therefore what it costs.
  • TolerancesWhich features are critical. Everything else runs to our standard tolerance, which is what keeps the price sensible.
  • FinishSurface treatment, cosmetic requirements, and any faces that must be masked.
  • DocumentsWhether you need a material certificate, dimensional report, FAIR or PPAP with the shipment.

Missing something from the list is not a problem — send what you have. We will come back with the specific questions rather than a generic form.

Other Metals for CNC Routing

Other Processes for Titanium

Send the drawing, the Titanium grade and the quantity. You get pricing, lead time and any DFM notes back — usually within one business day.

Request a Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical lead time and minimum order for CNC Routing Titanium?

CNC Routing prototypes for Titanium can be produced quickly and scaled to series production. Send your drawing and quantity and we will advise lead time and any minimum order.

What tolerances can you hold for CNC Routing Titanium?

Achievable tolerances for Titanium machining depend on the alloy, geometry and feature size. Milling holds positional and dimensional tolerances to around ±0.01 mm, tighter with precision setups. Exact figures are confirmed against your drawing callouts.

How clean are the edges produced by CNC Routing on Titanium?

Machined Titanium edges are clean and to specification; edge-break or deburring is added when your drawing calls for it.

Why is Titanium a good choice for CNC Routing?

Titanium is high strength-to-weight, biocompatible, corrosion resistant, which makes it well suited to CNC Routing. We tune the process to the alloy so the finished Titanium machining part meets your dimensional and functional requirements.