MATERIALS · TITANIUM ALLOYS

Titanium CNC machining

Falcon CNC LLC machines precision titanium components for space launch, aerospace and defense: lightweight, high-strength parts with complex geometry, held to tight tolerances in our AS9100D-certified, ITAR-registered Mesa, Arizona shop.

THE ALLOY

Strength without the weight

Titanium alloys deliver an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance and good fatigue performance at moderately elevated temperatures. At roughly 56% of the density of steel, titanium is a staple of flight structures, rotating hardware and pressure-carrying parts where every gram counts.

Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) is the most widely used titanium alloy, valued for its balance of strength, toughness and heat-treatability, while commercially pure grades are chosen where maximum corrosion resistance and formability matter most.

Common titanium applications

KEY FACTS

Titanium at a glance

MOST COMMON ALLOY

Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5), UNS R56400

COMMON SPECIFICATIONS

AMS 4928 (bar & forgings) · AMS 4911 (sheet, strip & plate)

DENSITY

≈ 4.43 g/cm³ (Ti-6Al-4V), about 56% of steel

MELTING RANGE

≈ 1604–1660 °C (Ti-6Al-4V)

OTHER COMMON GRADES

Commercially pure Grades 2 & 4 · Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Grade 23)

KEY TRAITS

Strength-to-weight, corrosion resistance, fatigue strength

MACHINING TITANIUM

Managing heat, galling and chatter

Titanium conducts heat poorly, so heat concentrates at the cutting edge. It can gall and smear, and its relatively low stiffness makes thin walls prone to chatter and spring-back.

We plan titanium jobs around these behaviors: rigid fixturing and support for thin features, sharp tooling, controlled cutting speeds with consistent engagement, and generous coolant, followed by CMM verification of critical dimensions.

FAQ

Titanium machining: common questions

Why is titanium hard to machine?

Titanium’s low thermal conductivity concentrates heat at the cutting tool, it reacts with tool materials at high temperatures causing galling and wear, and its low stiffness makes thin features chatter and spring back. Controlled speeds, sharp tools, rigid support and good coolant are essential.

What is Ti-6Al-4V?

Ti-6Al-4V, also called Grade 5, is the most widely used titanium alloy. It contains about 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium, can be heat treated, and offers an excellent balance of strength, toughness and corrosion resistance for aerospace and space hardware.

How does titanium compare with steel and aluminum?

Titanium is about 44% lighter than steel while matching the strength of many steels, and although it is denser than aluminum, it is much stronger and performs at higher temperatures. That makes it ideal where both weight and strength matter.

Do you provide material certifications and traceability?

Yes. We maintain full material traceability and supply material certifications and inspection documentation under our AS9100D / ISO 9001:2015 quality system.

What do you need to quote a titanium part?

A drawing and/or 3D model, the alloy and material specification (for example AMS 4928 for Ti-6Al-4V bar), quantities, and any finish, inspection or documentation requirements. For ITAR-controlled data, contact us first so we can arrange a secure transfer.

Need lightweight titanium parts you can rely on?

Send us your drawing, material spec and quantity for a quote.