Geometric control and best fitting of electric discharge machining tools

A method for checking a geometry of an electric discharge machining electrode, the method comprising:

• providing a file containing a native 3D-model of the electric discharge machining electrode;
• providing a manufactured electric discharge machining electrode based on the native 3D-model;
• light scanning a set of images of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode in different positions and generating a scanned 3D-model of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode;
• and
• comparing the native 3D-model and the scanned 3D-model and generating electrode compensation coordinates for an electric discharge machining apparatus, to correct an electrode path during electric discharge machining,
• wherein the electric discharge machining electrode comprises a holder area, intended for connection of the electric discharge machining electrode to a mounting support, and a working area, intended for co-action with a workpiece to be machined;
• the working area comprises a suction surface and a pressure surface configured for machining a suction surface and a pressure surface of an impeller vane of a turbomachine, and further comprises a shroud surface and a hub surface configured for machining a shroud surface and a hub surface of the impeller vane;
• and the geometrical elements are applied on points located on the suction surface and on the pressure surface, but not on the shroud surface and on the hub surface.

A method for checking a geometry of an electric discharge machining electrode, the method comprising:

• providing a file containing a native 3D-model of the electric discharge machining electrode;
• providing a manufactured electric discharge machining electrode based on the native 3D-model;
• light scanning a set of images of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode in different positions and generating a scanned 3D-model of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode;
• and
• comparing the native 3D-model and the scanned 3D-model and generating electrode compensation coordinates for an electric discharge machining apparatus, to correct an electrode path during electric discharge machining,
• wherein the step of light scanning the set of images of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode comprises light scanning images of a plurality of geometric elements integrally moving with the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode;
• the scanned 3D-model of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode contains the plurality of geometric elements;
• and the step of comparing the native 3D-model and the scanned 3D-model of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode comprises a preliminary step of generating a coordinate system for spatially positioning the scanned 3D-model relative to a spatial position of the native 3D model.

A method for checking a geometry of an electric discharge machining electrode, the method comprising:

• providing a file containing a native 3D-model of the electric discharge machining electrode;
• providing a manufactured electric discharge machining electrode based on the native 3D-model;
• light scanning a set of images of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode in different positions and generating a scanned 3D-model of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode;
• and
• comparing the native 3D-model and the scanned 3D-model and generating electrode compensation coordinates for an electric discharge machining apparatus, to correct an electrode path during electric discharge machining,
• wherein the native 3D-model contains information on geometric tolerance ranges, which the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode must match, and wherein the method further comprises the step of checking if the scanned 3D-model of the manufactured electric discharge machining electrode matches the tolerance ranges.