Aerospace & Automotive Micro-Drilling of Titanium Alloy (Ti-6Al-4V)

🕜 Efficiency remained consistent | 📈 Quality - thrust force and torque are reduced 39% with stable & consistent hole diameter | ⚙️ Tool Life - the occurrence of twisted or entangled chips are greatly reduced
  • Difficulties in Machining
  • HIT Achievements
  • Industry Application
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What makes Titanium Alloy difficult to machine?


The good ductility and work hardening properties of titanium alloys have brought serious concerns for the quality of hole wall and the positional precision of the drilling holes.  If the thrust force and torque are not well-controlled, the workpiece may suffer from displacement due to its ductile property.  Its hardened surface and entangled chips will also cause severe damages to both the quality of workpiece and its positional precision.  When it comes to higher aspect ratio (hole depth to diameter), it is going to be even more challenging to maintain the quality. 

The work hardening property of titanium alloys when it is heated has brought huge difficulties in drilling this material.  With the protective oxide layer on the surface of titanium alloys, the drills may lose their sharpness easily and even encounter risks of tool breakage.  Along with the entangled chips produced in the drilling process, not only the quality of workpiece is at stake, but also the tool life will be disastrously unstable.  The major challenge also lies in controlling the thrust force and torque in the drilling process.

 
 

☑️ Titanium Drilling Information

 
    Titanium Drilling Information  
  Material   Titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V)
  Dimensions   Φ0.5 x 5mm
  Methods   Micro-drilling
  Integrated System   CTS; ATC; CNC Automation

 

ultrasonic-assisted machining on titanium drilling
(Figure. ultrasonic-assisted machining on titanium drilling)

 

HIT's Goal in Drilling Titanium Alloy


To see ultrasonic effects on the hole quality of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) micro-drilling.



Ultrasonic-Assisted Machining of Titanium Drilling Results


HIT discovered that conducting the Φ0.5x5mm micro-drilling 50 holes on titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) with ultrasonic-assisted machining technology, the thrust force and torque can be reduced by 39%. 

With the integration of CTS (Coolant Through Spindle), it greatly reduced the occurrence of twisted or entangled chips.  This not only prolonged tool life, but also maintained the positional precision of the micro-holes.

 

HIT Ultrasonic Machining Technology Achievements


🕜 Efficiency remained consistent
📈 Quality - thrust force and torque are reduced 39% with stable & consistent hole diameter
⚙️ Tool Life - the occurrence of twisted and entangled chips are greatly reduced 



 

Titanium Drilling in Industry Application

  

Micro-drilling Titanium Alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) has been widely applied in the Aerospace industry and 3C Electronics industry, especially for aircraft components (aircraft riveted components, flap track fairing, etc.) and smartphone phone case.


Products with this kind of feature in Titanium Alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) usually take enormous amount of time and cost huge amount of money on the drillling tools in order to manufacture high quality products.


💡 Titanium Alloy aircraft components : 

Aircraft components have to handle and withstand years of operation under high temperature and high pressure environments.  The aircraft riveted components, aircraft turbines, and flap track fairing in the aerospace industry benefit significantly when titanium alloys are incorporated into their systems.
Machining this kind of material usually comes with great expense in time and money due to its machining characteristics.
This is where HIT's Ultrasonic Machining Module comes in handy!  We offer a comprehensive solution in machining these difficult-to-cut materials.  With the assistance of our Ultrasonic Machining Technology, cutting force is greatly reduced and the coolant can function effectively due to high-speed frequency oscillation.  We can assure our clients of fulfilling their needs and even achieving better outcome!


💡 Titanium Alloy smartphone phone case : 

Titanium alloy has broaden its application in the 3C electronics industry as smartphone phone case and the bezels of wearable devices.  With the outstanding combination of lightweight, high strength, good corrosion resistance, titanium alloys are beginning to take up a major part in the industry.
Machining this kind of material usually comes with great expense in time and money due to its machining characteristics.
This is where HIT's Ultrasonic Machining Module comes in handy!  We offer a comprehensive solution in machining these difficult-to-cut materials.  With the assistance of our Ultrasonic Machining Technology, cutting force is greatly reduced and the coolant can function effectively due to high-speed frequency oscillation.  We can assure our clients of fulfilling their needs and even achieving better outcome!



💡 Introduction on Titanium Drilling