Multi-Axis CNC Machining of Titanium, PEEK & Medical-Grade Alloys

Olympus Machining LLC — a U.S.-based precision CNC machine shop in Hanover, Pennsylvania (York County, CAGE 9V9P0) — machines biocompatible titanium grades, medical-grade PEEK, 316L stainless steel, and cobalt-chromium alloys for medical device, surgical instrument, and dental component customers. Multi-axis capability and tight-tolerance inspection make us a fit for components where dimensional integrity and surface condition are inseparable from device function.

Material Specifications

Material	Density	Tensile Strength	Biocompatibility	Standard	Surface Finish	Recommended Tooling
Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5)	4.43 g/cm³	950 MPa (138 ksi)	ASTM F136 (surgical implant)	ASTM F136 / AMS 4928	Ra 0.4–0.8 µm achievable	Coated carbide, low SFM, flood coolant
Ti CP Grade 2	4.51 g/cm³	345 MPa (50 ksi)	ASTM F67 (unalloyed Ti for implants)	ASTM F67	Ra 0.4 µm achievable	Sharp uncoated carbide, generous chip clearance
PEEK (unfilled)	1.32 g/cm³	100 MPa (14.5 ksi)	ASTM F2026 (medical implant grade available)	ASTM F2026	Ra 0.8 µm achievable	Polished carbide, no coolant or compressed air, stress-relieve cycles for thin sections
PEEK-CF30 (carbon-fiber filled)	1.40 g/cm³	215 MPa (31 ksi)	Industrial / structural medical use	ASTM D5990 (mech. property reference)	Ra 1.6 µm typical	PCD or diamond-coated carbide for tool life on abrasive fibers
316L Stainless Steel	8.00 g/cm³	485 MPa (70 ksi)	ASTM F138 (surgical implant grade)	ASTM F138 / AMS 5648	Ra 0.4 µm achievable; passivation per AMS 2700	Coated carbide, positive rake, controlled feed to avoid work hardening
Cobalt-Chromium (CoCr, F75)	8.30 g/cm³	655 MPa (95 ksi)	ASTM F75 (cast Co-Cr-Mo for implants)	ASTM F75	Ra 0.8 µm achievable	Carbide with ceramic option for roughing; rigid setups required

Mechanical property values are typical reference values. Actual certifications travel with each material lot and are recorded on AS9102 Form 2 for controlled-program work.

Multi-Axis Capability for Medical Components

Medical components — bone screws, surgical instrument bodies, implant fixtures, dental abutments — frequently combine complex contours, undercuts, and tight-tolerance threaded interfaces. Olympus Machining performs:

• 5-axis simultaneous milling for complex geometries in a single setup, eliminating relocation error
• Sub-micron tolerance work on critical fits (±0.0005" / ±0.013 mm routinely held on inspected features)
• Burr-free finishing through controlled tool paths and dedicated deburring operations
• Coordination with qualified passivation vendors (AMS 2700) for stainless and titanium components
• Coordination with NovaKote and equivalent medical-coating providers for surface treatment hand-off when required

Per-Alloy Machining Parameters (Reference)

Reference cutting parameters Olympus uses as starting points for medical-grade alloys on our 3-, 4-, and 5-axis CNC mills. Actual programmed values are adjusted per feature, tool diameter, stickout, and rigidity of the setup.

Material	Cutting Speed (SFM)	Feed / Tooth (in)	Axial DOC	Coolant Strategy
Ti-6Al-4V (Gr 5)	150–250	0.002–0.005	0.5 × D max	Flood, high pressure preferred
Ti CP Gr 2	200–350	0.003–0.006	0.75 × D	Flood; sharp tools to avoid galling
PEEK (unfilled)	500–900	0.003–0.008	1.0 × D	Air blast — no flood, no soluble coolant
PEEK-CF30	400–700	0.002–0.005	0.75 × D	Air blast; PCD tooling preferred
316L Stainless	200–350	0.003–0.007	1.0 × D	Flood; positive rake to avoid work hardening
CoCr (F75)	80–150	0.002–0.004	0.5 × D	Flood; rigid setup mandatory

SFM = surface feet per minute. DOC = depth of cut. D = tool diameter. Values are starting points based on shop experience and tool-vendor guidance.

Biocompatibility & Industry Specifications

Material specifications relevant to medical device and implant work that Olympus customers commonly invoke on purchase orders and drawings:

• ASTM F136 — Wrought Ti-6Al-4V ELI (extra low interstitial) for surgical implant applications.
• ASTM F1295 — Wrought Ti-6Al-7Nb for surgical implants where vanadium-free chemistry is required.
• ASTM F67 — Unalloyed titanium (CP Grades 1–4) for surgical implant applications.
• ASTM F138 — Wrought 18Cr-14Ni-2.5Mo stainless (316L) bar/wire for surgical implants.
• ASTM F75 — Cast cobalt-28 chromium-6 molybdenum (CoCr) for surgical implants.
• ASTM F2026 — PEEK polymer for surgical implant applications (medical-grade resins).
• ISO 5832 series — International equivalents to ASTM F136/F138/F75 for global device programs.
• ISO 10993 — Biological evaluation of medical devices (test methodology referenced by raw-material qualification).

Material is purchased to the specification called out on the drawing or PO. Mill certifications travel with the lot and are bound into AS9102 Form 2 (or an equivalent material/process certification record) for controlled-program work.

Post-Processing for Medical Components

• Passivation per ASTM A967 (titanium and stainless) coordinated with qualified outside processors with certifications bound into the delivery package.
• Electropolish for 316L stainless surgical instruments and implant fixtures where reduced surface roughness and improved corrosion resistance are required.
• Anodize Type II / Type III (titanium color anodize and hard anodize on aluminum fixtures) for identification, wear, and surface-energy control.
• PEEK annealing coordinated for thin-section or stress-sensitive PEEK components to relieve machining stress prior to inspection.
• Ultrasonic cleaning per program-specific protocol prior to final inspection and packaging.

When 5-Axis Machining Matters for Medical

5-axis simultaneous machining is the right choice for medical components when (1) the part has complex compound contours that would otherwise require multiple setups and re-fixturing — bone screws, acetabular cups, dental abutments, surgical instrument handles — (2) tolerance between features on different faces is tighter than the achievable relocation accuracy of a 3-axis re-fixture, or (3) tool access to undercuts and angled features requires rotary positioning. Eliminating setups also eliminates the largest single source of dimensional drift across a production lot, which is why 5-axis is standard practice for high-mix medical instrument and implant production.

ISO 13485 Readiness

Olympus Machining operates an AS9100D-aligned quality management system for aerospace and defense work. The QMS controls — document control, calibration, nonconforming product handling, traceability, supplier qualification, internal audits — overlap substantially with ISO 13485 requirements for medical device suppliers. While the shop is not currently ISO 13485 certified, customers requiring 13485 supplier qualification can request our QMS documentation for review and gap analysis. The traceability and documentation our aerospace customers receive on AS9102 first articles is the same rigor available to medical customers.

Get a Quote for Medical Components

Submit your drawing along with material spec, lot quantity, and any required certifications. We will respond with a quote, lead time, and DFM feedback.

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