As a result of the development of new materials for high temperature applications the potential for mass reduction and increased process temperatures is constantly being expanded. Intermetallic c-TiAl alloys can meet these demands to a large extent. The properties necessary for these applications have an adverse effect on the machinability however and render intermetallic titanium aluminides as difficult to machine materials. Cutting operations tend to produce damaged surfaces which are unsuitable for the intended applications. As the basis for a reliable and economic cutting technology, the chip formation of the intermetallic TiAl alloy TNBV5 has been examined in quasi-static cutting experiments. Observations showed that increased workpiece temperatures lead to a transition of the chip formation from segmented to continuous chips. By decreasing the undeformed chip thickness crack-free surfaces could be produced at low workpiece temperatures. In this case other mechanisms than the thermal activation of slip systems must be the reason for the observed large plastic deformations. The theory that hydrostatic pressure leads to this behavior is substantiated by the results of finite element simulations. This offers the possibility for damage free machining at lower cutting speeds, thus enabling the use of conventional tool materials at an acceptable tool life.