Tips for Machining Titanium

Titanium is a metal that has approximately half the density of steel but is extremely durable. It is gaining popularity for its use in the medical, automotive and aerospace industries. Even jewelers are beginning to use titanium more in their designs. Titanium is also twice as elastic as steel. This peculiar metal requires special treatment when being machined or cut. Here are some general guidelines for machining titanium:

1. Make sure to use a titanium alloy in its softest state. Doing so will make them easier to work with.

2. Keep your tools sharp. Dull tools cause your equipment to heat up.

3. Use large amounts of coolant to help keep thermal stability and prevent surface irregularities as well as tool failure.

4. Use appropriate cutting geometries in order to reduce heat generation, cutting forces and deflection of parts.

5. Use a constant feed of material to reduce workplace hardening.

6. Use a larger tool with a greater nose radius whenever possible. This will decrease the cutting force required for any one point and prevents damage to local areas.

Want more information on titanium? Check out the about page at titaniummetalsupply.com.

Properly Caring for Your Titanium Jewelry

Like other metals, titanium jewelry will acquire a few scuffs from every day wear. Although its advised to remove jewelry before engaging in activities that involve heavy knocks and abrasion (such as going to the gym, doing yard work, playing sports or operating equipment) there are a few tips to cleaning titanium jewelry.

1. You may use liquid dish soap and water to remove grease and dirt from your titanium jewelry.

2. Rinse and then spray with a glass cleaner, such as Windex.

3. Rinse again and dry with a soft towel that will not scratch the metal further.

4. For those rings and pieces with a high polish, use a metal polish designed specifically for titanium.

5. For rings with stones, soak the ring in a solution of half ammonia cleaner and water for fifteen minutes and then continue with regular cleaning. This will help remove dirt from under the stones.

Interesting Facts on Alloys From Titanium

When titanium is combined with another chemical element, the resulting product is known as a titanium alloy. Titanium alloys are necessary because in its purist form, titanium is quite reactive. The most common mixtures of titanium include iron, aluminum, molybdenum, or vanadium. Titanium alloys come in various grades of mixtures. Titanium 6AL-4V is the most common titanium alloy and is a Grade 5. It contains 90 percent titanium, followed by 6 percent aluminum and the remaining 4 percent is vanadium. This particular grade can withstand temperatures nearing 400 degrees Celsius or 752 degrees Fahrenheit! Such allows are used in materials we use every day. They are used in everything from glass frames, aircraft parts and medical replacement parts and supplies.

From titanium sheets to titanium bars to blocks, TitaniumMetalSupply.com is your source for quality titanium.

Did You Know Titanium is the 9th Most Abundant Element?

Did you know that out of all of the elements found in the Earth's crust, titanium is the ninth most abundant? Surplus titanium is found everywhere--in sands, soils, rocks, water, animals and plants. However, because it reacts to readily with oxygen, titanium is not found as pure metal. It's found in ore form. In order to increase titanium's durability, it is often combined with other metals to form alloys. The leading titanium producing countries in the world include Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Japan and China. Typically, titanium is mixed with aluminium, iron and other metals to be used in a variety of ways. Nearly 65 percent of titanium produced throughout the world is used in aircraft and marine equipment manufacturing because it is so light and resistant to corrosion and wear.

Titanium Suppliers Get A Boost from Boeing's Recent Announcement to Increase Production

Titanium Metals Corp. and RTI International Metals both saw their shares rise at least 5% today raining the aftermath of Boeing's March 19th announcement that it would boost aircraft production.

To bring everyone up to speed, just Friday the 19th or March, Boeing Co. announced it will be boosting production of its two most popular commercial jets to meet rising demand for new aircrafts as a turnaround in the beaten-down airline sector makes steady gains"

"Boeing has delayed this cycle for many years, but the ramp in production along with the hot demand for materials in general is driving increased money flow for Titanium," stated Bob Fitzwilson, chief investment officer for the Portola Group hedge fund.

The Portola Group holds nearly 800K shares of Titanium, making it the third largest holding company in its portfolio.

D.A. Davidson & Co. analyst Avinash Kant highlighted RTI and Titanium Metals Corp. as two set to cash out in what he's calling an "avionic revolution" led by Boeing. "We believe the successful adoption of composites and titanium in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a game changer, as it will set the stage for significant future adoption and lead to significantly higher demand," stated Kant.

Another company Kant is keeping an eye on is Hexcel Corp which develops high-performance composites like carbon fiber. Kant is watching this group as the "avionic revolution" theme unfolds.

Titanium Metal Supply, another major titanium supplier will soon get benefits from the aerospace boom as well. The company has been a valuable supplier to the aerospace industry for years and is deeply respected among industries heavily reliant on the titanium industry.

Using Titanium Internally in Watches Puts New Watchmaker on the Map

Swiss watchmaker De Bethune is perhaps one of watchmakings best kept secrets known for his bold use of titanium where no watchmaker has used it before. As a newcomer, De Bethune has already developed nine different calibers and has made a name for the brand by being known for continuous innovation to the watchmaking practice, yet still maintaining tremendous respect for the practice's horological traditions. The company innovates with lighter materials, such as titanium, in areas of the watch that other's have ignored and used the "traditional" materials

Wei Koh, the managing editor and co-founder of Revolution, an international watch magazine, describes the brand as "probably the best-kept secret in high watchmaking" explaining that "no other brand has committed themselves to more groundbreaking innovation regarding basic chronometry and functional innovation than De Bethune."

One innovation that stands out with De Bethune is the company's commitment to increasing the use of titanium in watch movements. According to Mr. Flageollet, former professor at the watchmaker's school in Le Locle (Switzerland), "Titanium is a very interesting material for watchmaking. . . It's extremely light, yet resistant, and it is corrosion-resistant. But while several houses use titanium for their cases, the metal is barely used internally."

In essence, using titanium for the tiny components inside the watch that create the movement requires tremendous research and development for the watchmaker- something that De Bethune does not shy away from.

What De Bethune has managed to create with the company's innovated and daring uses of titanium internally in watches is perhaps the lightest balance wheels in the world. According to Mr. Zanetta, founder of De Bethune, "It has the highest inertia system, which absorbs changes in position and shocks much better than any other system."

The practice of watch-making and clock making has been around for centuries and it makes you wonder why no other legendary swiss watchmaker has attempted these bold moves. Given that De Bethune is a newcomer to the watchmaking industry, as early as 2002, the company brought to the market a very fresh perspective on the entire industry and a state of mind that long time watch makers had left behind decades ago.

The moral of the story is this: do not shy away from using new and better materials in different applications like De Bethune did by incorporating titanium into the gears of the watch. Because of his dedication and interest in using titanium where it could be used, he now can claim that he has created perhaps the lightest watch dials in the world. Thus, a little research can go a long way and put your brand and product on the map.

Read more about the story in the New York Times and learn more about De Bethune here.

Titanium Supplier Industry Blog

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