Two aerospace mainstays at opposite ends of machinability — the strategy is nearly reversed.
Aluminum
Soft and easy: high spindle speeds, high feeds, great finish. Watch chip control and built-up edge; sharp polished tools and coolant or MQL. Loves high-RPM machines.
Titanium
Strong, gummy and heat-trapping: low SFM, steady feed (don't dwell), rigid setup, sharp tools and generous high-pressure coolant. Rewards machine rigidity and torque over speed.
Bottom line
Aluminum: go fast, manage chips. Titanium: go steady, manage heat and rigidity. A machine great at one isn't automatically great at the other — aluminum wants RPM, titanium wants rigidity and coolant.
