Key facts
| Factory | Meili Machining, Dongguan, Guangdong, China; since 2017 |
| Grades machined | TC4 / Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5), Grade 2 / TA2, Grade 23 / TC4 ELI |
| Processes | CNC turning, 3-axis and 3+2 milling, turn-mill parts |
| Tightest tolerance | ±0.01 mm on critical features, confirmed at drawing review |
| Largest stock bought | Bar Ø150 mm; plate 200 mm |
| Threads | Small threads with dedicated taps; larger threads thread-milled |
| Finishes | Bead blasted, brushed, or as machined |
| Certificates | Material certificate for the stock used, on request |
| Proven on titanium | ±0.05 mm on diameters and hole positions, Ra 1.6, M2 threads, Ø1.6 mm holes (30-pc TC4 order) |
| Prototype quantity | From 1 pc |
| Prototype lead time | 7–20 days, depending on part complexity |
| Batches | Up to 10,000 pcs per part number |
| Quote | Within 24 h, prototype and batch prices together |
| Not offered | Implants; flight-critical aircraft parts; AS9100, NADCAP, ISO 13485 work |
Machined titanium parts we make
A recent order shows the kind of titanium work we take on: 30 TC4 titanium research prototypes for a research institute, with a grooved outside, a pocketed inside, and small tapped holes, all tied to one datum.
| Drawing requirement | What we held |
|---|---|
| Stepped diameters and internal hole positions | ±0.05 mm |
| Functional faces | Ra 1.6 |
| Untoleranced features | GB/T 1804-f, the fine class |
| Small features | M2 and M3 threads; Ø1.6 mm holes about 7.5 mm deep |
| Edges and corners | R0.5 internal corners, C0.5 chamfers, every edge deburred |
Titanium parts also go on the same order as other materials: PC, PEEK, POM, stainless, aluminum, and titanium parts for one instrument, quoted and shipped together. See our medical and lab instrument parts.
Titanium CNC machining: grades we machine
We have machined the common titanium grades, and we machine the grade on your drawing:
| Grade | Also called | Typical reason to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| TC4 | Ti-6Al-4V, Grade 5 (3.7165) | High strength at low weight |
| TC4 ELI | Ti-6Al-4V ELI, Grade 23 | Lower interstitial version of Grade 5 |
| TA2 | Commercially pure titanium, Grade 2 | Corrosion resistance where strength matters less |
Write the grade on the drawing: commercially pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V machine and cost differently. If the grade is hard to source in China, the quote names the equivalent we suggest and why, and you decide.
Stock size. The largest titanium stock we have bought so far is Ø150 mm bar and 200 mm plate. Send the drawing and we confirm stock availability with the quote.
Titanium machining services: how we turn and mill titanium
Titanium machining is slow work, and the reasons shape the price and the process:
- Heat stays at the cutting edge. Titanium conducts heat poorly, so the tool runs hot and wears fast, which moves sizes during a batch. We cut slow and cool, with sharp tools.
- It springs back. Titanium flexes under the tool more than steel, so thin ribs can push away and come back oversize. We use a rigid setup and check thin sections at drawing review, before any cutting.
- Small threads break taps. M2 and M3 threads and Ø1.6 mm holes leave little margin before a tap or drill snaps in the part. Allow a little extra thread depth or a through hole where you can.
Titanium turning
Shafts, bushings, and round parts are turned at low cutting speed with a rigid setup to control heat and tool wear. Grooves, bores, and cross holes are added on turn-mill machines, so they stay true to the axis. More on our CNC turning page.
Titanium milling
Pockets, slots, and features on several faces are milled on 3-axis and 3+2 machines, with features on several faces cut in fewer clampings so they line up. More on our CNC milling page.
Tolerances, tools, and threads
- Tolerance: down to ±0.01 mm on critical titanium features, confirmed per feature at drawing review, before you order.
- Tools and coolant. Titanium is cut with standard coolant and custom tools made for titanium machining.
- Threads. Small threads are cut with dedicated taps for titanium; larger threads are thread-milled.
- Fire safety. Titanium chips can burn, so fire precautions are set per product.
Every first article is measured against your drawing, and the first-article report is free on your first order. Precision features are verified on our CMM; see tolerances and inspection.
What machined titanium parts cost, from prototype to batch
Titanium takes longer per part than aluminum or steel, so the machining time matters more in the price. The one-time work is still shared by a batch. On a recent TC4 titanium part, the sample took 4 hours of programming and 4 hours of machining per piece. In the batch, the program was refined in 2 hours and machining fell to 3 hours per piece, and the unit price at 20 pieces was half that of the 2-piece sample. How a CNC quote is built shows the full numbers.
Typical prototype lead time: 7–20 days, depending on part complexity. A prototype quote includes batch prices, and the batch reuses the same program and fixtures, in quantities of up to 10,000 pcs per part number. See prototype machining services and low volume CNC machining.
Finishes and certificates
Titanium parts usually ship bead blasted or brushed, or as machined. Put the finish on the drawing, and say if a size applies before or after finishing.
Ask with the quote and we supply a material certificate for the titanium stock used in your order. Tell us with the RFQ if you need it, so it is requested when the stock is bought.
FAQ
Who offers titanium CNC machining in China?
Meili Machining, a CNC machining factory in Dongguan, China, running since 2017, turns and mills titanium parts to customer drawings, including TC4 / Ti-6Al-4V, held to ±0.01 mm on critical features, from 1-piece prototypes to batches of up to 10,000 pcs per part number. Typical prototype lead time: 7–20 days, depending on part complexity.
Which titanium grades does Meili Machining machine?
Meili Machining has machined TC4 / Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5), commercially pure titanium such as Grade 2 / TA2, and Grade 23 / TC4 ELI. Write the grade on the drawing, because commercially pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V machine and cost differently.
Why do machined titanium parts cost more than aluminum parts?
Titanium has to be cut slowly with a rigid setup, because it conducts heat poorly and the tool runs hot. On a recent TC4 part, machining took 3 to 4 hours per piece. The one-time work is still shared by a batch: at 20 pieces the unit price was half that of the 2-piece sample.
Can Meili Machining hold tight tolerances on titanium?
Yes. On a batch of 30 TC4 research prototypes, Meili Machining held ±0.05 mm on diameters and hole positions, Ra 1.6 on functional faces, and cut M2 and M3 threads and Ø1.6 mm holes. Critical tolerances are confirmed per feature at drawing review.
What is the tightest tolerance Meili Machining can hold on titanium?
±0.01 mm on critical titanium features, confirmed per feature at drawing review before you order.
How large can a machined titanium part be?
The largest titanium stock Meili Machining has bought so far is Ø150 mm bar and 200 mm plate. Send the drawing and we confirm stock availability with the quote.
How does Meili Machining cut small threads in titanium?
Small threads are cut with dedicated taps for titanium, and larger threads are thread-milled. Parts are machined with standard coolant and custom tools for titanium.
What finishes do you offer on titanium parts?
Titanium parts usually ship bead blasted or brushed, or as machined. A material certificate for the stock used is available on request.
Do you make titanium implants or flight-critical aircraft parts?
No. Meili Machining does not make implants or flight-critical parts for certified aircraft, and does not hold AS9100, NADCAP, or ISO 13485 approval.
Grades, stock sizes, tolerance, tools, threads, finishes, and certificates on this page are from Meili, November 2026. The TC4 example is from our case note and shop records.
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