The principles of elements choice of lead free cutting brass was expatiated.It was pointed out that the lead in lead-brass or bismuth in bismuth-brass is replaced by dispersive intermetallics.The development of the lead free cutting brass containing bismuth and graphite/copper composite was summarized.It can be concluded that the key points for cutting brass containing no lead are the choices of elements which can form brittle but not hard intermetallics and procedure which can make the intermetallics distr...