Although machining may sound involved, it’s a fairly basic process. Any sort of smoothing or shaping metal (and other tough materials) constitutes machining or machine tooling. And it’s been around just about forever, or at least for a very long time. In fact, the lathe, commonly used by the ancient Egyptians, is considered one of the very first machining tools. Today, lathes can help shape a variety of items, including table legs, gun barrels, candlesticks, and musical instruments.
With such an extensive history, consumers and manufacturers may get the impression that machining is relatively simple. That is not true. A precision machining company works with many different materials and some are harder to work with than others. What is one of the toughest materials to shape and hone? How do precision machine shops and engineering services get the job done?
Titanium Can Cause Problems
Titanium… It’s tough, it traps heat, and using the wrong tools or machining techniques can leave you with embarrassing results. Titanium is light-weight and durable, making it a popular choice in metal siding, automobile parts, and even airplane and aerospace parts. So what exactly makes it so difficult to handle?
First, it’s hard and handling it improperly can lead to a lot of problems, including “built-up edges, notching at the cut line, galled workpieces and chips welding to the cutter,” according to an Australian machining directory. Secondly, titanium doesn’t necessarily conduct heat well — and that’s not a good thing. Instead, the strong metal traps it in, which can endanger works and ruin machine tools.
A Precision Machining Company Is Up For The Job!
In other words, if you are working with a metal as tough and complicated as titanium, your best option is to work with a precision machining company. Machining services have years of experience and a broad range of equipment at their disposal. They know, for example, to use sharp, rigid machine tools to get the job done.
Machining has been around for centuries. New materials, however, present new challenges. Seek out professional machining companies to help you expertly shape and repair the toughest and most intricate materials, like titanium.
