Titanium Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5)

Ti-6Al-4V, also called Grade 5, is the workhorse titanium alloy and the titanium on OpusFab’s CNC material list. It accounts for most titanium parts made anywhere, because it combines the properties titanium is known for in one alloy.

Why choose titanium

• Strength-to-weight: the highest in our catalogue. Ti-6Al-4V is about 60 percent heavier than aluminium by volume but far stronger, so a titanium part can be smaller and lighter than an aluminium part doing the same job.
• Corrosion resistance: excellent, including saltwater and many chemicals. Titanium needs no coating for most environments.
• Biocompatibility: the standard alloy for medical and dental implants, and a common choice for anything worn against skin.

Typical uses: aerospace and motorsport structural parts, medical components, performance bicycle and drone parts, and marine hardware.

Design and quoting notes

Titanium machines to the same CNC tolerance tiers as our other metals: Standard (±0.05mm) and Precision (±0.01mm). Keep walls and thin features conservative, since the slow cutting speeds punish delicate geometry; see Minimum radius and wall thickness. The quickest way to judge the premium is to upload the STEP file and switch the material dropdown between titanium and 7075-T6 aluminium: the price difference for your exact geometry appears immediately.

Why not titanium

• Cost. The stock is expensive, and that is only the start. Titanium is slow to machine: cutting speeds drop to a fraction of aluminium’s, tool wear rises, and cycle times stretch. A titanium part commonly costs several times the same geometry in aluminium.
• Galling. Titanium tends to seize and smear at sliding contacts and in threaded joints. Design mating titanium threads and bearing surfaces carefully, or pair them against another material.

Finishes for titanium

In the OpusFab editor, titanium parts can be ordered Raw (As-Machined), sandblasted, PVD coated, or powder coated (any Pantone colour). Anodising is not offered on titanium. PVD is the usual choice for a hard, wear-resistant black or metallic surface; see PVD coating.

When to choose Ti-6Al-4V

• The part is weight-critical and highly loaded: aerospace, motorsport, performance equipment
• Corrosion resistance must come from the material itself, not a coating
• The part contacts the body: medical, dental, or wearable applications
• The application genuinely justifies the price premium

When aluminium is the smarter pick

If 7075-T6 aluminium is strong enough for the job, it is far cheaper and machines in a fraction of the time. Titanium earns its premium only when weight, strength, corrosion resistance, or biocompatibility rule aluminium out. See Aluminium 6061 vs 7075 for the aluminium comparison, and Materials overview for the full metal list.