Titanium Laser Machining for Fine Features in Aerospace and Medical Components

Background: Fine Feature Requirements

Aerospace and medical components often require fine, intricate features that are difficult to achieve with conventional cutting methods. Titanium’s high strength and corrosion resistance make it ideal for critical structural and surgical parts.

In this case, the customer required titanium components with fine holes, intricate contours, and precise edges. Titanium laser machining was selected for its ability to cut complex features without inducing mechanical stress.

Material Selection and Titanium Machinability

Titanium alloys were chosen for their strength, corrosion resistance, and dimensional stability. Machinability challenges included:

• Heat sensitivity during cutting

• Maintaining precise tolerances on fine features

• Avoiding surface oxidation and discoloration

Laser machining titanium offers high precision while minimizing heat-affected zones.

Titanium Laser Machining Process

Laser machining operations included:

• Cutting intricate contours and slots

• Drilling micro-holes for assembly and fluid passage

• Edge trimming and finishing

Laser machining titanium allowed complex features without mechanical tool contact, preserving surface integrity.

CNC Titanium Machining Integration

Following laser machining, CNC titanium machining was applied to:

• Finish mounting surfaces and critical interfaces

• Drill or tap assembly holes

• Ensure dimensional accuracy of all functional features

Precision titanium machining ensured the final parts met tight specifications.

Dimensional Accuracy and Surface Finish

All critical features were held within ±0.01 mm tolerance. Surface finishes were optimized for aerospace and medical standards, ensuring smooth, clean edges and precise assembly.

Inspection and Quality Assurance

Quality control included:

• CMM inspection for dimensional verification

• Visual inspection of fine features

• Gauge measurement for critical holes and slots

These steps ensured all CNC titanium parts met aerospace and medical quality requirements.

OEM and Engineering Collaboration

Engineering teams collaborated with customers to:

• Optimize laser machining parameters for titanium

• Integrate laser and CNC machining operations efficiently

• Validate prototypes before production

Supported CAD, CAM, and CAE tools included STEP, DWG, DXF, IGS, STL, and PDF formats.

Applications of Laser Machined Titanium Components

Titanium laser machining is widely used for:

• Aerospace sensor mounts and brackets

• Medical device surgical guides and implants

• Precision industrial assemblies with intricate features

This approach enables highly detailed, accurate titanium parts for critical applications.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates how titanium laser machining combined with CNC titanium machining produces high-precision aerospace and medical components. By managing titanium machinability challenges and integrating inspection protocols, reliable and intricate machined titanium parts were delivered.