Starting cutting speed in m/min and sfm, feed in mm/rev and ipr, the carbide grade class and the setup by operation for CuZn39Pb3 (C38500). The numbers are the published N20 Copper / Brass sub-group starting band; the designations are on the cross-reference page.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 513 group | N Non-ferrous |
| Sub-group | N20 Copper / Brass |
| Sub-group hardness / condition | 80–160 HB |
| Category | Free-cutting brass |
| EN / Werkstoffnummer | CuZn39Pb3 (CW614N) · 2.0401 |
Hardness is the range published for the whole N20 Copper / Brass sub-group on our material guide; the delivery condition of your CuZn39Pb3 may sit anywhere inside it or outside it.
| Condition | Vc m/min | Vc sfm | Feed mm/rev | Feed ipr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brass | 200–500 | 655–1640 | 0.05–0.30 | .002–.012 |
| Copper | 150–400 | 490–1310 | 0.05–0.30 | .002–.012 |
Sub-group starting values for carbide inserts, from N20 Copper / Brass. They describe the whole sub-group and are not tuned to CuZn39Pb3. sfm and ipr are converted from the metric values (1 m/min = 3.281 sfm, 25.4 mm = 1 in). The published band is per sub-group, not per operation; the table below gives the setup by operation. Convert Vc to spindle speed with the speeds & feeds calculator, and see the speeds & feeds guide for the ISO N group range.
| Operation | Geometry | Coating family | Coolant | First check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roughing | Copper: sharp high positive rake. Brass: near-neutral or slightly negative rake | Uncoated polished carbide; PCD for high-volume work | Coolant for copper to avoid smearing | Rake matched to the alloy: brass grabs, copper builds up |
| Finishing | Sharp edges throughout | Uncoated polished carbide | Coolant for copper | Smearing: a dull or rubbing edge smears soft metal |
| Interrupted cut | Sharp edge, rake per alloy | Uncoated polished carbide | Coolant for copper | Grabbing or self-feeding on free-machining brass |
| Low rigidity / thin wall | Near-neutral rake on brass to stop self-feeding | Uncoated polished carbide | Coolant for copper | Long stringy chips on copper: chipbreaker geometry |
Setup rows are the selection table of the N20 Copper / Brass guide. They carry no speeds, so they do not change the starting band above.
Uncoated polished carbide; PCD for high-volume work. Sharp edges throughout.
The P, M, K, N, S or H number inside a grade range describes what the grade is built for, not the workpiece sub-group number, and the two scales must not be matched to each other. We name no single grade here: none of our published sources ties a named grade to this alloy. Pick by ISO class, then compare what the makers publish on the ISO N grade list and in the grade chart.
EN CuZn39Pb3 (CW614N), Werkstoffnummer 2.0401, US UNS C38500, JIS C3604 (nearest). The full table, with the nearest-match flags, is on the CuZn39Pb3 / C38500 cross-reference page.
The screw-machine benchmark: lead breaks chips into dust and speeds are limited by the machine, not the material. Uncoated sharp carbide, minimal rake, and it just runs.
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The published starting band for the N20 Copper / Brass sub-group is Brass 200–500 m/min (655–1640 sfm) at 0.05–0.30 mm/rev (.002–.012 ipr); Copper 150–400 m/min (490–1310 sfm) at 0.05–0.30 mm/rev (.002–.012 ipr). It is a starting band for the whole sub-group, not a value tuned to CuZn39Pb3, so confirm on a sample part and adjust for condition, tool and rigidity.
Uncoated polished carbide; PCD for high-volume work. Sharp edges throughout. Pick the grade by ISO class rather than by brand name, then confirm the exact grade for your condition. We name no single grade here because none of our published sources ties a named grade to this alloy.
EN CuZn39Pb3 (CW614N) (Werkstoffnummer 2.0401); US: UNS C38500; JIS: C3604 (nearest). Entries marked nearest are the closest commonly-cited counterpart, not a same-composition equivalent.
The advisor compares what the makers publish for your material and operation and shows the source behind each answer, or tells you it could not verify.