Machining of a hollow shaft made of β-titanium Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al

In several fields of application it is important to apply components with a balanced combination of high strength, low density and a high chemical resistance. The aerospace sector uses titanium-based materials to manufacture lightweight parts of increased safety such as structural components, turbine disks and blades or landing gears. The latter are often made of β-titanium alloys offering the highest strength-to-weight ratio. New applications of this emerging group of alloys can be developed if a hollow shaft of high strength is available, for example in the drive train of automobiles. The presented process sequence for manufacturing a hollow β-titanium shaft consists of an incremental forming process followed by a longitudinal turning operation. The machinability of the β-titanium alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al is investigated at the undeformed raw material featuring two different conditions of heat treatment, and is compared with the machinability of the formed hollow shaft. Beside the cutting speed, the heat treatment of the material determines the development of tool wear and the occurring process forces.