Titanium Plasma Cutting for Aerospace Panels and CNC Machined Titanium Parts

Background: Aerospace Panels Production

Aerospace panels require lightweight, high-strength titanium sheets precisely cut and finished to meet strict dimensional and structural requirements. Plasma cutting allows fast separation of titanium sheets, while CNC machining ensures exact fit and functional features.

In this project, titanium panels were fabricated for aircraft assemblies. Titanium plasma cutters provided accurate preliminary cuts, and CNC titanium machining completed holes, slots, and surface finishing.

Material Selection and Machinability Considerations

Titanium alloys used in aerospace applications provide corrosion resistance, fatigue strength, and a high strength-to-weight ratio. Challenges include:

• Low thermal conductivity, causing localized heat during cutting

• Work hardening during machining

• Maintaining flatness and minimal distortion on thin panels

Plasma cutting titanium allowed rapid shape removal without significant heat-affected zones. CNC machining refined critical features.

Titanium Plasma Cutting Process

Plasma cutting operations included:

• Securing titanium panels on precision fixtures

• Adjusting cutting speed and power according to thickness

• Producing near-net-shape blanks for CNC finishing

Edges were clean, and minimal taper ensured compatibility with subsequent machining.

CNC Titanium Machining of Features

CNC machining operations included:

• Drilling, countersinking, and slotting

• Milling mounting surfaces and assembly flanges

• Finishing functional features to tight tolerances

High-speed machining titanium parameters were optimized for efficiency and surface integrity.

Dimensional Accuracy and Surface Quality

Critical dimensions were held within ±0.01 mm. Surface finishes met aerospace assembly requirements. CMM inspection verified flatness, hole alignment, and geometric accuracy.

Heat Management and Stress Control

Optimized plasma cutting reduced heat input, and high-speed machining titanium minimized residual stresses. Selective stress relief was applied for panels requiring precise flatness or critical mounting points.

OEM Support and Engineering Collaboration

Engineering teams collaborated to:

• Plan plasma cutting paths for efficient material utilization

• Sequence CNC machining operations for precision

• Validate prototypes before mass production

CAD/CAM software such as SolidWorks, UG, and CATIA were used. Supported formats included STEP, DWG, DXF, IGS, STL, and PDF.

Applications in Aerospace

Titanium plasma cutting combined with CNC machining is widely applied for:

• Aircraft structural panels

• Aerospace fixtures and mounts

• Precision titanium parts requiring flatness and dimensional accuracy

This integration ensures fast production with high-quality results.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates how titanium plasma cutting integrated with CNC machining enables precise aerospace panels. Optimized cutting parameters, high-speed machining, and post-process inspection ensure high-quality, distortion-free titanium parts suitable for demanding aerospace applications.