We are proud to be one of the UK’s top suppliers of metals. Our team goes above and beyond to provide the best products. However, that is not the extent of what we do. We can also offer you many options for processing the materials, such as titanium alloy machining.
A sought after material
In the past titanium was overlooked in machining due to its characteristics. But, there have been new developments in technology and metallurgy. These help to change the views on using it.
At the moment, the metal is sought after for its exceptional weight to strength ratio. It is three times better than steel. The metal performs very well at high temperatures too. Not to mention, the corrosion resistance is excellent.
If that wasn’t enough, there is also a selection of alloys. They include different elements to enhance the performance. You need to think about this, especially if you will need titanium alloy machining.
One thing to keep in mind is that titanium experiences an allotropic transformation. This happens at temperatures over 800ºC. What this does is change the crystalline lattice and alter the characteristics of the metal. For example you can add alpha stabilisers to boost the temperature usability.
Categories
Depending on what the contents of your stabilisers are, you can put titanium alloys into four categories. They are:
Unalloyed – This is the metal alone with no alloying elements. It lacks strength when you compare to alloys but has great corrosion resistance.
Alpha alloys – These come with a better creep resistance. It leads to people using them for high temperature parts.
Alpha-beta alloys – This is the most widespread group thanks to its brilliant characteristics. Beta stabilisers add to the strength while alpha ones add to the heat resistance.
Beta alloys – These are notable for being harder than the last groups. They also have a higher density.
How to increase speeds?
One important area where people have struggled with titanium alloy machining has been the speed. However, there are ways to increase it.
The first step to do this is to choose the right cutting tool. Your primary focus needs to be the material. A number of substances have proven to be really good here. The material for tools must have the right attributes. For example, they have to be hard at high temperatures and must be high strength.
The cutting tools also need to have a great resistance to chatter. Plus they should be chemically neutral to hot titanium. Finally, they require high fatigue properties as well as good thermal conductivity. The last one is vital to compensate for the slow rate.
Special strategies
Using rotary inserts is one of the ways you can improve the speed. In the past you could not do this due to the machine tool design’s precision. But, thanks to today’s manufacturing technology, you can use them now. The leading principle is that the tool insert has a round form. It revolves around the fixture while the utensil cuts the stock too. This way, the heat transfer is far quicker and the cutting is faster.
Another strategy is using ultrasonically assisted metal removal. Titanium chips have bad elasticity. This only worsens due to the deformation hardening at the cutting edge. Ultrasonic waves are able to encourage wave chip fracture. This halts the material build up. You can then increase the speed.
A great choice for titanium alloy machining
At Brindley Metals, we aim to consistently supply first class metal products and services. So, feel free to contact us if you require our help. We can talk about your needs and decide what service you need.