Process & Material
Titanium Grade 2 Sinker EDM Feasibility Review
Titanium Grade 2 can be machined with Sinker EDM when the geometry matches blind cavities, ribs, shaped pockets, mold details, deep forms, and internal geometry that a traveling wire cannot reach. 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
Sinker EDM is suitable for Titanium Grade 2 when the feature is a blind cavity, rib, pocket, or internal form that a shaped electrode can reach from one side. 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 Sinker EDM, the supplied condition changes electrode wear, cavity-floor consistency, corner growth, and the finishing strategy—especially on deep ribs and textured surfaces.
Choosing the Right Condition
Choose Sinker EDM for blind cavities, ribs, shaped pockets, mold details, deep forms, and internal geometry that a traveling wire cannot reach. 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
For Sinker EDM, thin sections can move and corrosion or medical surfaces need selective recast removal and cleanliness. The cavity can release local stress while the electrode progressively loses its intended geometry as roughing transitions to final orbit and floor sizing, especially around medical, fatigue and corrosion-critical titanium surfaces. The practical failure in Titanium Grade 2 is a dimensionally acceptable cavity with thermally damaged floors or corners. For Titanium Grade 2, use clean low-energy finishing and specify whether recast removal, polishing or validated cleaning is required. Verify the floor, sidewalls and corner radii after the final finishing burn; document geometry, recast, contamination and the named medical, fatigue or corrosion face for Titanium Grade 2.
How Sinker EDM Works on Titanium Grade 2
Sinker EDM reproduces a shaped electrode as a blind cavity in Titanium Grade 2. Electrode material, wear, orbit, pulse energy and debris evacuation control wall size, floor depth, corner definition and surface condition. Where final size or texture is critical, roughing and finishing electrodes should be planned as separate operations.
Sinker EDM Capability Reference
| What you're asking | What you can expect |
|---|---|
| Feature types | blind cavities, ribs, shaped pockets, mold details, deep forms, and internal geometry that a traveling wire cannot reach |
| Tolerance | ±0.008–0.030 mm |
| Surface finish | Ra 0.2–6.3 μm |
| Electrode choice | Graphite or copper selected from cavity, finish, and wear needs |
| Primary cavity limit | Depth, rib width, access, and debris evacuation |
| Main limitation | Electrode access and debris evacuation limit deep, narrow blind geometry. |
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 is commercially pure, ductile titanium with moderate strength and high corrosion resistance. 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. For Sinker EDM, thin sections can move and corrosion or medical surfaces need selective recast removal and cleanliness. In blind cavities, trapped debris and repeated heating can increase recast and microcrack risk at floors and sharp corners.
Surface Integrity and Post-Process
For Sinker EDM on Titanium Grade 2, use low-energy finishing and define whether recast removal, polishing or passivation is required. Use roughing and finishing electrodes separately where cavity size or texture is controlled. Apply polishing, lapping or recast removal only to named functional faces, and inspect wall, floor and corner condition after the final surface operation.
Titanium Grade 2 Sinker EDM Checkpoints
- Confirm that the feature matches blind cavities, ribs, shaped pockets, mold details, deep forms, and internal geometry that a traveling wire cannot reach.
- 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
- mold cavities
- blind pockets
- deep ribs
Limits and Better Alternatives
Main Limit
Electrode access and debris evacuation limit deep, narrow blind geometry. 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 Wire EDM for through profiles, CNC machining for open cavities with tool access, or grinding for simple flat precision surfaces.
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 Sinker EDM with the adjacent EDM or conventional process.
Practical Takeaway
Titanium Grade 2 is compatible with Sinker 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: Sinker 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 Sinker EDM?
Yes, when the feature is a blind cavity, rib, pocket, or internal form that a shaped electrode can reach from one side. Titanium Grade 2 is electrically conductive and the final route follows the feature geometry and supplied condition.
What controls Sinker EDM on Titanium Grade 2?
The main process controls are electrode material, wear compensation, cavity depth, rib width, orbit strategy, debris evacuation, and rough-versus-finish electrodes. The Titanium Grade 2 condition adds dimensional-stability and surface-integrity requirements.
What is the main risk?
For Sinker EDM, thin sections can move and corrosion or medical surfaces need selective recast removal and cleanliness. The cavity can release local stress while the electrode progressively loses its intended geometry as roughing transitions to final orbit and floor sizing, especially around medical, fatigue and corrosion-critical titanium surfaces. The practical failure in Titanium Grade 2 is a dimensionally acceptable cavity with thermally damaged floors or corners. For Titanium Grade 2, use clean low-energy finishing and specify whether recast removal, polishing or validated cleaning is required. Verify the floor, sidewalls and corner radii after the final finishing burn; document geometry, recast, contamination and the named medical, fatigue or corrosion face for Titanium Grade 2.
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.