---
title: "Titanium CNC Machining | Grade 5 Ti-6Al-4V, Grade 2 | OpenSpindle"
description: "Get quotes for custom titanium parts from independent machine shops. Grade 5 Ti-6Al-4V, Grade 2, Grade 23 ELI, machined, turned, and anodized. Upload a drawing."
canonical: https://openspindle.com/materials/titanium
---

# Custom titanium parts from independent machine shops

Titanium delivers the strength of steel at roughly 60% of the weight, with corrosion resistance that shrugs off seawater and the body. It cuts slow and demands rigid setups, so upload a drawing and hear back from shops that run Grade 5 and Grade 2 every day.

## Titanium shops on OpenSpindle

Real shops that machine titanium day in and day out. See their equipment and talk to the person making your part.

[Browse all titanium shops](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?material=Grade%205%2CGrade%202%2CGrade%2023)

## Titanium grades shops run most

The grade sets strength, formability, and biocompatibility. These are the ones you will see quoted; if yours is not here, ask when you request a quote.

### Grade 5 / Ti-6Al-4V

The workhorse titanium alloy and by far the most machined. High strength, good fatigue life, and stable up to about 400 C. Harder to cut than the CP grades, so expect low speeds and rigid tooling.

**Best for:** Aerospace structure, motorsport, brackets, high-stress parts

### Grade 2 (commercially pure)

Unalloyed titanium chosen for corrosion resistance and formability over strength. Machines and welds more easily than Grade 5 and takes bends without cracking.

**Best for:** Chemical, marine, and corrosion-driven parts, formed sheet

### Grade 23 / Ti-6Al-4V ELI

The extra-low interstitial version of Grade 5, with tighter limits on oxygen and iron for better fracture toughness and ductility. The standard choice for anything implanted or fracture-critical.

**Best for:** Medical implants, surgical instruments, fracture-critical parts

### Grade 9 / Ti-3Al-2.5V

A medium-strength alloy that sits between the CP grades and Grade 5. Cold formable and commonly drawn into tubing, with good weldability.

**Best for:** Tubing, hydraulic lines, bike frames, aerospace ducts

### Grade 1 (commercially pure)

The softest, most ductile CP grade with the best formability and corrosion resistance. Lower strength than Grade 2, used where forming and corrosion matter more than load.

**Best for:** Deep-drawn parts, plate exchangers, corrosion linings

## Material Properties

Representative values for Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), the most common machining grade. Exact numbers vary by grade and heat treatment.

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Density | 4.43 g/cm³ (0.16 lb/in³), ~60% of steel |
| Tensile strength (Grade 5) | ~138 ksi (950 MPa) |
| Yield strength (Grade 5) | ~128 ksi (880 MPa) |
| Hardness (Grade 5) | ~36 HRC |
| Max service temp | ~400 °C (750 °F) |
| Machinability | Difficult (~20-25%); low speeds, rigid setup, work-hardens |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent, including seawater and most acids |
| Weldability | Good under inert gas or vacuum shielding |
| Biocompatibility | Excellent; Grade 23 ELI for implants |

Titanium has an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, but it cuts slowly and is hard on tooling, so parts cost several times more than the same part in aluminum.

## Stock Forms

- **Plate & block** -- Milled and 5-axis parts machined from solid.
- **Round bar** -- Turned shafts, fasteners, and cylindrical parts.
- **Sheet** -- Waterjet, laser, and formed sheet metal parts.

## Processes That Run This Material

- [CNC Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-machining.md) -- Milled housings, brackets, and prismatic parts from plate and block.
- [CNC Turning](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-turning.md) -- Turned shafts, fasteners, and fittings from round bar.
- [Sheet Metal & Press Brake](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/sheet-metal-fabrication.md) -- Cut and formed sheet parts, most often in Grade 2.
- [5-Axis Machining](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=5-axis%20milling) -- Complex titanium geometry and implants in a single setup.
- [Waterjet Cutting](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Waterjet%20cutting) -- Cold cutting of thick titanium plate with no heat-affected edge.
- [Welding](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Welding) -- TIG welding under inert gas or in a purge chamber to avoid contamination.

## Finishes

Titanium is one of only two common metals that anodize, but its anodize works differently from aluminum: the color comes from oxide thickness, not dye.

- **Type II anodize (color)** -- Voltage grows a clear oxide layer whose thickness bends light into color (blue, purple, gold, and more). There is no dye, and the finish is common on medical and consumer titanium.
- **Passivation** -- A nitric or citric acid bath that thickens the natural oxide for maximum corrosion resistance. Standard on medical and marine parts.
- **Bead blast** -- A uniform matte texture that hides machining marks. Often used as a base before anodizing or passivation.
- **As-machined** -- No finish. Titanium already resists corrosion, so bare parts are fine for internal or non-cosmetic use.

Titanium anodize colors are set by oxide interference, not pigment, so specify the target color and the shop dials in the voltage.

## Applications

- Aerospace & defense
- Medical implants & instruments
- Motorsport
- Marine
- Firearms
- High-performance bike & EDC
- Chemical processing
- Industrial / OEM

Titanium earns its premium where strength-to-weight, corrosion, heat, or biocompatibility rule out cheaper metals.

## How It Compares

How titanium stacks up against the other metals shops quote most.

### [Aluminum](https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum.md)

- Titanium has a much higher strength-to-weight ratio and far better high-temperature and corrosion performance
- Aluminum is several times cheaper and machines much faster
- Titanium is biocompatible and used for implants; aluminum is not

**Verdict:** Choose aluminum for cost and speed. Choose titanium when strength-to-weight, heat, or biocompatibility justify the premium.

### [Stainless steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md)

- Titanium is about 40% lighter than stainless with a comparable strength-to-weight edge
- Both resist corrosion well, but titanium wins in seawater and biological environments
- Stainless is far cheaper and easier to machine; titanium costs more in both stock and cycle time

**Verdict:** Choose stainless for strength and corrosion at lower cost. Choose titanium when weight savings or biocompatibility matter more than price.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between Grade 2 and Grade 5 titanium?

Grade 2 is commercially pure titanium chosen for corrosion resistance and formability, and it machines and welds more easily. Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is an alloy with roughly twice the strength, which makes it the default for structural and load-bearing parts. Use Grade 2 for corrosion and forming, Grade 5 for strength.

### Why is titanium more expensive to machine than aluminum or steel?

Titanium is strong, work-hardens quickly, and conducts heat poorly, so the cutting edge runs hot and wears fast. Shops cut it at low speeds with rigid setups and generous coolant, which means longer cycle times and more tooling. The stock itself also costs more per pound, so a titanium part often runs several times the price of the same part in aluminum.

### Can titanium be anodized in color?

Yes, but not the way aluminum is. Titanium anodizing grows a clear oxide layer, and its thickness bends light into color (blue, purple, gold, and more) through interference. There is no dye involved, the color is set by voltage, and the finish is common on medical, consumer, and EDC titanium.

### Which titanium grade is used for medical implants?

Grade 23, also called Ti-6Al-4V ELI, is the standard implant grade. ELI means extra-low interstitial: tighter limits on oxygen and iron give it better fracture toughness and ductility than standard Grade 5. It is biocompatible and used for orthopedic implants, bone screws, and surgical instruments.

### Is titanium magnetic or corrosion resistant?

Titanium is essentially non-magnetic and forms a stable oxide layer that resists corrosion in most environments, including seawater and many acids. That combination is why it is used for marine hardware, chemical equipment, and implants. Passivation thickens the oxide for maximum protection.

### Does titanium need a coating or finish?

Usually not for corrosion, since the natural oxide protects the surface, so many parts ship as-machined or bead blasted. Passivation is added where maximum corrosion resistance or medical cleanliness is required, and color anodizing is used for appearance. Send the finish spec with your drawing and the shop confirms.

### What file formats should I send for a titanium part?

STEP, IGES, X_T, DWG, DXF, or a dimensioned PDF. Include the grade (for example Grade 5 or Grade 23 ELI), critical dimensions and their tolerances, quantity, and any finish such as passivation or color anodize.

## Related Materials

- [Aluminum](https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum.md)
- [Stainless Steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md)
- [Carbon Steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/carbon-steel.md)
- [Brass](https://openspindle.com/materials/brass.md)
- [Copper](https://openspindle.com/materials/copper.md)
- [PEEK](https://openspindle.com/materials/peek.md)

## Get titanium part quotes

Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent shops that machine, cut, and finish titanium.