Surface Finishing for Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V)
Titanium naturally forms a protective oxide layer, but surface treatments can enhance performance. Anodizing provides colors, PVD adds wear resistance, and shot peening improves fatigue life.
Recommended Machining Parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Achievable Tolerances | ±0.02 mm (±0.0008") |
| Surface Finish | Ra 0.4-3.2 μm |
| Cutting Speed | N/A |
| Feed Rate | N/A |
| Tooling Recommendations | N/A — surface finishing process |
Expert Machining Tips
1
Type II anodize for colored identification coding
2
PVD (TiN, TiAlN) for wear resistance
3
Shot peen for fatigue life improvement (compressive stress)
4
Passivation removes free iron contamination
Common Parts Made
Anodized aerospace fasteners
PVD-coated surgical instruments
Shot-peened structural parts
Machining Challenges
- Titanium anodize is different from aluminum anodize
- PVD coating temperature must not degrade Ti properties
- Color anodize for identification, not protection