Abstract:By analyzing the cutting performance of low copper content recycled brass alloy prepared from scrap copper, influences of lead mass fraction, process parameters, and environmental conditions on the surface processing quality of the material were studied. Results revealed the following trends: as lead content increased, both surface machining cutting force and roughness values of the material initially decreased and subsequently increased. When lead content ranged from 1.5% to 2.5%, surface roughness values exhibited minimal variation, all achieving relatively ideal levels with an average Ra value of approximately 2.5 μm. Notably, when the lead content reached 2.5%, surface machining cutting force was at its lowest, measuring F=164.96 N. With lead content fixed at 2.5%, optimal cutting performance was achieved when lathe rotational speed (n) was set at 700 r/min and feed rate (f) at 0.15 μm/Z. The use of coolant cooling method significantly reduced cutting force on the surface of the material to F=139.37 N, while surface roughness decreased to Ra=2.024 μm. Compared with natural cooling, air cooling method improved surface roughness of the material during processing, reducing it from Ra=2.529 μm to Ra=2.216 μm. This study provided practical process guidance for the efficient and precise machining of extruded round bars with recycled brass, offering significant potential for applications in material development and mechanical manufacturing.