THE MACHINING OF SINTERED BRONZE

Orthogonal machining experiments have been conducted on specimens of s intered bronze, At low porosities and low depths of cut, a continuous chip is formed as a result of compaction and shear local to the tip of the tool. At higher porosities, and larger depths of cut, discontinuo us chips form due to alternate compaction of the chip and brittle frac ture. The transition occurs when the depth of cut is about 0.6 times t he size of the plastic zone size associated with brittle fracture.