Process & Material
Titanium Grade 2 Small Hole EDM Drilling Feasibility Review
Titanium Grade 2 can be machined with Small Hole EDM when the geometry matches small through holes, deep holes, angled holes, cooling holes, vent holes, and start holes in hard or heat-resistant alloys. Titanium Grade 2 is a commercially pure titanium grade with lower strength and higher ductility than alpha-beta Grade 5; the supplied condition affects support, discharge energy, finishing, and inspection.
Quick Answer
Small Hole EDM is suitable for Titanium Grade 2 when the feature is a small, deep, angled, cooling, vent, or start hole in conductive material. The supplied condition must be stated before tolerance and surface requirements are confirmed.
Key Material Decisions
How This Material Behaves
A commercially pure titanium grade with lower strength and higher ductility than alpha-beta Grade 5. In Small Hole EDM, the supplied condition changes bore stability, breakthrough quality, wall finish, and the inspection plan for straightness and position.
Choosing the Right Condition
Choose Small Hole EDM for small through holes, deep holes, angled holes, cooling holes, vent holes, and start holes in hard or heat-resistant alloys. State the exact Titanium Grade 2 condition, then set tolerance, finish, support, and inspection from the controlled feature rather than the whole part.
Risks to Manage
When Small Hole EDM is used on a deep small hole approaching breakthrough in Titanium Grade 2, two effects occur together: thin sections can move and corrosion or medical surfaces need selective recast removal and cleanliness, while electrode wear reduces the exit diameter while flushing and residual stress change the path near the far face. The combined result is that the hole can meet entry diameter yet miss exit position, straightness, or edge acceptance. Control it by use staged electrodes where needed, support the exit face, stabilize through-electrode flushing, and inspect entry, exit, taper, and wall condition separately.
How Small Hole EDM Works on Titanium Grade 2
Small Hole EDM feeds a rotating tubular electrode through dielectric flow to produce small or deep holes in conductive material. On Titanium Grade 2, the supplied condition changes dimensional stability, discharge response, and surface behavior.
Small Hole EDM Capability Reference
| What you're asking | What you can expect |
|---|---|
| Feature types | small through holes, deep holes, angled holes, cooling holes, vent holes, and start holes in hard or heat-resistant alloys |
| Tolerance | ±0.010–0.050 mm |
| Surface finish | Hole-wall finish is feature-dependent |
| Typical diameter | About 0.3–3.0 mm for ordinary planning |
| Depth driver | Depth-to-diameter ratio, straightness, and breakthrough |
| Main limitation | Very small diameter combined with extreme depth may require specialized equipment, staged electrodes, and dedicated metrology. |
Material Condition Reference
| Condition | What to expect | Watch out for | Surface notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| annealed | Use stable support and low-energy finishing. | Thermal surface effects can reduce fatigue resistance. | Specify recast and edge condition on fatigue and medical faces. |
| stress-relieved | Plan around stress relief and thin-wall movement. | Residual stress can distort delicate profiles. | Use trim passes and controlled post-processing on critical faces. |
How This Material Behaves
Titanium Grade 2 does not behave the same in Small Hole EDM across every supplied condition. In EDM, this means thin parts can move easily and fatigue or corrosion faces are sensitive to recast and contamination despite the material's machinability by spark erosion. Use stable support, clean dielectric, low-energy finishing, and remove or limit recast on service-critical surfaces. The supplied material condition changes edge and wall response, while tubular-electrode wear, rotation, and internal flushing determine taper and straightness through the real depth. Entry size alone is not enough.
Surface Integrity and Post-Process
For Titanium Grade 2 in Small Hole EDM, use low-energy finishing and define whether recast removal, polishing or passivation is required. Assign fine finish, recast, edge, and post-process requirements only to the functional Small Hole EDM faces that need them.
Titanium Grade 2 Small Hole EDM Checkpoints
- Confirm that the feature matches small through holes, deep holes, angled holes, cooling holes, vent holes, and start holes in hard or heat-resistant alloys.
- State the supplied condition: annealed and stress-relieved.
- Mark the controlled dimensions, functional surfaces, datum scheme, and inspection method.
Typical Parts and Features
- medical components
- aerospace profiles
- lightweight fixtures
- turbine-blade cooling holes
- mold and die vent holes
- injector and nozzle holes
Limits and Better Alternatives
Main Limit
Hole depth, diameter, aspect ratio, flushing, and breakthrough quality—not stock thickness alone—set the practical limit. On Titanium Grade 2, thin sections can move and corrosion or medical surfaces need selective recast removal and cleanliness; the supplied condition still controls support, finishing, and surface-integrity review.
Consider Another Route When
Use mechanical drilling when the tool can reach economically, laser drilling for suitable thin geometry, or Micro EDM for smaller precision holes.
Practical Next Step
Send the Titanium Grade 2 drawing with condition, controlled geometry, tolerance, functional surface callouts, quantity, and inspection requirements. If the route is unclear, we will compare Small Hole EDM with the adjacent EDM or conventional process.
Practical Takeaway
Titanium Grade 2 is compatible with Small Hole EDM when the feature matches the process access. The supplied condition determines support, finishing, surface control, and inspection.
Additional Project Information
Include application, destination and end-use notes together with the material, quantity and drawing requirements.
Project Details for Technical Review
Include application and end-use notes when they affect material, inspection, documentation, or export review.
- Process: Small Hole EDM
- Material: Titanium Grade 2
- Drawing or part sketch
- Material grade
- Thickness / part size
- Quantity
- Tolerance and critical dimensions
- Surface finish or inspection requirement
STEP/STP, DXF, DWG, PDF, IGS/IGES or ZIP.
Confidential drawing review. NDA support available on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Titanium Grade 2 be machined with Small Hole EDM?
Yes, when the feature is a small, deep, angled, cooling, vent, or start hole in conductive material. Titanium Grade 2 is electrically conductive and the final route follows the feature geometry and supplied condition.
What controls Small Hole EDM on Titanium Grade 2?
The main process controls are electrode diameter, true hole depth, depth-to-diameter ratio, tubular-electrode wear, flushing pressure, breakthrough quality, and hole-wall inspection. The Titanium Grade 2 condition adds dimensional-stability and surface-integrity requirements.
What is the main risk?
When Small Hole EDM is used on a deep small hole approaching breakthrough in Titanium Grade 2, two effects occur together: thin sections can move and corrosion or medical surfaces need selective recast removal and cleanliness, while electrode wear reduces the exit diameter while flushing and residual stress change the path near the far face. The combined result is that the hole can meet entry diameter yet miss exit position, straightness, or edge acceptance. Control it by use staged electrodes where needed, support the exit face, stabilize through-electrode flushing, and inspect entry, exit, taper, and wall condition separately.
What should I send for review?
Send the drawing, exact Titanium Grade 2 condition, controlled geometry, tolerance, functional surface requirements, quantity, and inspection expectations. If any item is undecided, send what you have and we will help complete the review.