Electrical discharge machining system having independent electrodes, related control system and method

A method comprising:

• positioning an electrical discharge machining (EDM) system proximate a workpiece, the EDM system having:
• a guide structure;
• a machine ram coupled to the guide structure;
• a back plate coupled to the guide structure;
• a plurality of electrode devices positioned at least partially within the guide structure, wherein all of the plurality of electrode devices are aligned parallel with respect to one another and uniformly angled with respect to the guide structure to provide a plurality of electrical discharges to the workpiece, each of the plurality of electrode devices including:
• an electrode for positioning proximate the workpiece;
• an electrode holder coupled to the electrode for holding the electrode proximate the workpiece;
• an independent power supply;
• and
• a driver coupled to the electrode holder, the driver adapted to modify a position of the electrode holder and the electrode, wherein the back plate at least partially supports the driver in each of the plurality of electrode devices,
• initiating a hole formation program for each of the plurality of electrode devices;
• determining whether at least one electrode has completed formation of a corresponding hole in the workpiece;
• separating the at least one electrode from the workpiece in response to determining that the at least one electrode has completed formation of the corresponding hole;
• and
• continuing to run the hole formation program for each of the plurality of electrode devices in response to determining that each of the electrodes in the plurality of electrode devices has not completed formation of the corresponding hole in the workpiece.

A system comprising:

• a control system for controlling operation of an electrical discharge machining (EDM) system proximate a workpiece, the EDM system having:
• a guide structure;
• a machine ram coupled to the guide structure;
• a back plate coupled to the guide structure;
• a plurality of electrode devices positioned at least partially within the guide structure, wherein all of the plurality of electrode devices are aligned parallel with respect to one another and uniformly angled with respect to the guide structure to provide a plurality of electrical discharges to the workpiece, each of the plurality of electrode devices including:
• an electrode for positioning proximate the workpiece;
• an electrode holder coupled to the electrode for holding the electrode proximate the workpiece;
• an independent power supply;
• and
• a driver coupled to the electrode holder, the driver adapted to modify a position of the electrode holder and the electrode, wherein the back plate at least partially supports the driver in each of the plurality of electrode devices,
• the control system configured to perform processes including:
• initiating a hole formation program for each of the plurality of electrode devices;
• determining whether at least one electrode has completed formation of a corresponding hole in the workpiece;
• separating the at least one electrode from the workpiece in response to determining that the at least one electrode has completed formation of the corresponding hole;
• and
• continuing to run the hole formation program for each of the plurality of electrode devices in response to determining that each of the electrodes in the plurality of electrode devices has not completed formation of the corresponding hole in the workpiece.