Titanium’s strength-to-weight ratio and its corrosion-resistant properties make it one of the most popular metals on the market. An increasing number of electronic, automotive, aerospace, and robotics engineers are using this material in highly-complex and detailed designs. Consequently, the demand for titanium laser cutting is at an all-time high. Titanium laser cutting allows for an extremely precise result, and can be utilized to produce high-volume orders in a short time span. At AP Precision, we use specialized equipment and techniques to quickly produce highly-accurate parts.
What is Titanium?
Titanium is one of the Earth’s most abundant metals. It’s also one of the strongest and most resistant to corrosion. It’s easily combined with other metals to create alloys with unique properties. These days, titanium is used in everything from aerospace, electronics, automotive, architectural, to medical industries.
Challenges of Titanium Laser Cutting
Since titanium is reactive to oxygen, it is susceptible to micro-cracks during the laser cutting process. These micro-cracks can render a part useless to our clients in the aerospace, medical, and electronics industries, so we must avoid this damage at all costs. For example, we utilize high-pressure nitrogen and a specially-calculated cutting speed to prevent micro-cracks. Another challenge of titanium laser cutting is dealing with thickness. Depending upon the thickness of the material, laser cutting may or may not be a valid option. Our expert team is always on hand to help determine the best way to process your design.
Setup Considerations for Titanium Laser Cutting
At AP Precision, our expert team makes several considerations before undertaking any job. We must consider the optical focusing length, which assist gases to use, gas pressure, speed, power, and the size of the nozzle. In addition, we must assess the work programs, to ensure that they have been correctly designed for an optimal fabrication process.
Laser Etching on Titanium
We can also utilize lasers to etch the surface of titanium. We use the heated surface to oxidize the sheet, forming a dark, blue-tinted mark. This is useful for branding and custom labelling.
Industries We Serve
Over the years, a growing number of industries are utilizing titanium laser cutting to yield high volumes of extremely detailed and accurate parts. Because laser cutting is more accessible than ever, we see a growing number of industries coming to us for work. In particular, the medical device community is leveraging the qualities of this material for wearable and implantable devices. Here’s a list of the industries we serve:
- Defense Contracting
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Architectural
- Cycling
- Electronics & Computing
- Furniture & Interior Design
- Medical Device
- Transportation
Our Quoting Process
Our business not only in provides high-quality machined parts, but also offers an outstanding customer experience. Since titanium laser cutting can be a costly investment, our team is on hand to find the best solution for your budget. Our friendly staff will take the time to speak with you about your project and turn-around times to see how we can help. Our expert team of machinists may also be able to provide material recommendations to optimize your options. Contact us today for a quote.