Titanium forging Cutting Process
Titanium forging is a one-time processing method using a multi-ton hammer or swage to apply pressure to a titanium blank to heat it quickly and then shape it into the desired shape under the action of the inertia force of the hammer or swage. This is a forming process that has been used for many centuries because it requires only simple equipment and does not require complicated and expensive tooling.
Based on the forging process, the titanium blank is cut into the appropriate shape and needed size. As the titanium blank is too hard, the cutting process has to be done quite carefully. If a wrong cutting process is applied, it might cause some unintentional damage to the titanium alloy and impede the later forging process.
The process of cutting titanium alloy involves two sub-processes, namely the cold and hot cutting process. The cold cutting process is adopted when the cutting edge is large and the cutting temperature is low. The cold cutting process uses a thread milling process which uses a continuous cutting motion to cut the thread into the titanium blank. This process is used when lower temperatures are needed since it leads to a smaller risk of heat spreading on the titanium alloy, while high temperatures and cutting edge size will affect the physical structure of the titanium alloy.
The hot cutting process is adopted when the cutting edge size is small and the cutting temperature is high. A laser and/or a plasma cutting machine are used for hot cutting process to localize the heat spots and also providing higher precision for cutting edge size. The hot cutting process forms a narrow heat-affected zone where the titanium alloy melts, which allows for higher precision and better surface finish. The heat-affected zone is relatively short, so the structure of the titanium is not affected much by the cutting process.
The cutting process for the titanium forging requires careful attention due to the delicate nature of the titanium alloy. Any unintentional errors may lead to failure in the shaping process and possible failure in the whole forging process. In addition, any inherent defects in the titanium blank may still cause issues during the shaping process, therefore pre-qualification tests should be done prior to the titanium blank cutting process.
The cutting process for the titanium forging is an important process as it can determine the success of the forging process. To ensure quality, the cutting process needs to be done accurately and with the right tools and process in order to achieve the best shape and surface finish. The two most used cutting processes for titanium--cold and hot cutting processes--have their own strengths and weaknesses, so they should be chosen according to the requirement of the particular forging process. Using the right cutting process can ensure that the final titanium product is of high quality and long-lasting.
