Machinability of experimental Ti-Cu alloys

This study is an investigation of the machinability of experimental Ti-Cu alloys (2, 5, and 10mass% Cu) as new dental titanium alloy candidates for CAD/CAM use. The alloys were slotted with a vertical milling machine and carbide square end mills under two cutting conditions. Their machinability was evaluated through cutting force using a three-component force transducer fixed on the table of the milling machine. The horizontal cutting forces of the Ti-Cu alloys tended to increase as the concentration of copper increased. The feed force for Ti-10%Cu was more than twice as large as that for titanium under both cutting conditions. Alloying with copper reduced the machinability of titanium under the present cutting conditions. The adverse effect on the cutting force was attributed to the higher degree of tensile strength and hardness of the Ti-Cu alloys than of titanium.