Machinability of Metals : Chip Formation of Leaded Steels

Abstract

The machinability of free-cutting leaded steel was investigated from the viewpoint of chip formation. Orthogonal and conventional cutting tests were performed for 7 kinds of leaded steel and 4 kinds of nonleaded steel in order to determine the effect of lead contained in steel. The addition of lead to steel was found effective in improving the machinability and the area of shear region was smaller for leaded steels than for nonleaded steels. The chip classification was proposed for chip treatment in the case of leaded steels.