Machining data for Ti-6Al-4V (Titanium Grade 5) — material group, hardness, machinability rating, recommended cutting speeds and equivalent designations.
Page last changed 2026-10-19 · based on n/a — industry comparison scale, no governing standard
| Material group | S — Superalloys & Titanium |
| Sub-group | Titanium alloy, alpha-beta |
| Hardness | 33–36 HRC |
| Tensile strength | 950 MPa (138 ksi) |
| Machinability | 22 % |
| Density | 4.43 g/cm³ |
| Product / heat-treatment condition | A shared condition for all properties is not recorded; see the individual property notes. |
Hardness, tensile strength and machinability are compiled typical values. They are not a specification for a single product and heat-treatment condition. Where a grade also appears in the Steel Grades Chart, the two compilations have not been reconciled to a common condition.
The workhorse titanium alloy — about 45% lighter than steel at comparable strength, with excellent corrosion resistance. Notoriously difficult to machine: it conducts heat poorly so the cutting edge takes almost all of it, and it is chemically reactive with tool materials at temperature.
| Operation[5] | Speed range (carbide)[5] |
|---|---|
| Turning — roughing | 120–180 SFM (35–55 m/min) |
| Turning — finishing | 180–260 SFM (55–80 m/min) |
| Milling | 120–250 SFM |
| Drilling (HSS) | 30–50 SFM |
Speeds are surface feet per minute with carbide tooling; millimetre equivalents are in brackets. These are typical catalogue ranges, not a specification. Depth of cut, feed, insert grade, coolant and machine rigidity all shift the correct value — start at the low end.
| Standard[3] | Designation[3] |
|---|---|
| ASTM | Grade 5 |
| UNS | R56400 |
| DIN | 3.7165 (TiAl6V4) |
| EN | Ti-P63 |
| JIS | Type 60 |
Cross-standard correspondence is approximate. Verify against the governing specification before substituting one designation for another.
| Element[1] | Content (%)[1] |
|---|---|
| Al | 5.5–6.75 |
| V | 3.5–4.5 |
| Fe | ≤0.30 |
| O | ≤0.20 |
| Ti | Balance |
Compiled composition ranges. The original product specification and edition have not been recorded for these values; confirm the applicable grade document and product condition before treating them as acceptance limits.
The workhorse titanium alloy — about 45% lighter than steel at comparable strength, with excellent corrosion resistance. Notoriously difficult to machine: it conducts heat poorly so the cutting edge takes almost all of it, and it is chemically reactive with tool materials at temperature.
The rating compares how easily a material cuts against AISI 1112 free-machining steel, which is defined as 100%. It folds together chip formation, surface finish, tool wear and power consumption into one number — it is a shop-floor comparison, not a physical property.
Two consequences follow. First, ratings from different sources differ by roughly ±10%, because each was measured under different conditions. Second, a high rating does not mean the material is soft: gray cast iron rates 70% and machines easily because the graphite breaks chips, while pure copper rates only 20% and is soft but gummy.
Use the rating to compare two candidate materials, not to predict a cutting speed. For speeds, use the table above and your own tooling catalogue.
References and calculation methods used for this page are listed below. Numbered markers connect table columns where present. A reference listing does not itself establish that every value has been independently checked.
| # | Source | Type | Revision / method |
|---|---|---|---|
| [1] | Chemical composition limits | compilation | n/a — original document, edition and applicable condition not recorded for each value |
| [2] | Values computed from the nominal figure | derived | Metric equivalents and any converted values are computed at build time; source values are the inch/imperial figures. |
| [3] | Equivalent international designations | compilation | n/a — original document, edition and applicable condition not recorded for each value |
| [4] | Machinability rating (AISI 1112 = 100%) | compilation | n/a — original document, edition and applicable condition not recorded for each value |
| [5] | Recommended cutting speed ranges | compilation | n/a — original document, edition and applicable condition not recorded for each value |
| Standard | Revision | What it covers on this page |
|---|---|---|
| Machinability rating, AISI 1112 = 100% | n/a — industry comparison scale, no governing standard | the machinability column |
| Tooling manufacturer cutting-speed recommendations | n/a — typical catalogue ranges | the cutting speed table |
| Grade specifications (ASTM / EN / DIN / JIS) | n/a — see the individual grade specification (ASTM, EN or DIN) | composition limits and equivalent designations |
No page-specific independent source review is recorded here. The listed references and formulas explain the basis of the compilation; automated consistency checks do not verify the original sources or establish product conformity.
Cutting speeds vary with tooling and setup. The ranges shown are starting points for carbide tooling — confirm against the insert manufacturer's recommendation for the specific grade and geometry before production use.
Read the source notes, calculation methods and verification scope above before reusing a value. To cite this page:
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