# US 10,870,160 B2 · Wire electric discharge machine

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- Number: US 10,870,160 B2
- Document ID: US10870160B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/730,058
- Filed: 2017-10-11
- Published: 2018-04-19
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-18
- Assignees: Fanuc Corporation
- Applicants: Fanuc Corporation
- Inventors: Meguru Yamaguchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870160B2

## CPC

- B23H 11/003: {Mounting of workpieces, e.g. working-tables}
- B23H 1/10: Supply or regeneration of working media
- B23H 7/02: Wire-cutting
- B23H 11/00: Auxiliary apparatus or details, not otherwise provided for
- B23H: WORKING OF METAL BY THE ACTION OF A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENT ON A WORKPIECE USING AN ELECTRODE WHICH TAKES THE PLACE OF A TOOL; SUCH WORKING COMBINED WITH OTHER FORMS OF WORKING OF METAL (processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings, electroforming, or apparatus therefor C25D; processes for the electrolytic removal of material from objects C25F; manufacturing printed circuits using precipitation techniques to apply the conductive material to form the desired conductive pattern H05K3/18)

## Abstract

To provide a wire electric discharge machine which suppresses the machining speed and machining precision from declining, as well as enabling flexible handling in relation to the shapes of various workpieces, and the generation of sludge and gases which varies accompanying the progression of wire electric discharge machining. A wire electric discharge machine that performs electric discharge machining on a workpiece by causing a wire electrode and the workpiece to relatively move, includes an articulated robot, and a suction mechanism provided to a wrist leading end of the articulated robot, and suctions machining waste and gas generated by wire electric discharge machining.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wire electric discharge machine that causes a wire electrode and a workpiece to move relatively, and performs electric discharge machining on the workpiece, the wire electric discharge machine comprising:
an articulated robot; and
a suctioning waste and gas remover that is provided to a leading end part of the articulated robot, and suctions machining waste and gas generated by wire electric discharge machining and conveys the machining waste and gas away from the workpiece through a pipe, wherein
posture of the suctioning waste and gas remover is changeable by an operation of the articulated robot in accordance with progression of the wire electric discharge machining, and
the suctioning waste and gas remover has a robot coupler comprising a pair of projections and a pair of rotating engagement members that are disposed at the leading end part of the articulated robot and a base of the articulated robot, and are configured to detachably couple the leading end part of the articulated robot and the base of the articulated robot.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 1, further comprising a robot controller that synchronizes the articulated robot to movement of the wire electrode that relatively moves in relation to the workpiece.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 1, further comprising a main body that supports the wire electrode,
wherein the articulated robot is supported by the main body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 1,
wherein the wire electrode is supported by an upper guide part and a lower guide part, and
wherein the articulated robot can relatively move the suctioning waste and gas remover in relation to the upper guide part.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein the articulated robot can move the suctioning waste and gas remover along the wire electrode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein the suctioning waste and gas remover has a suction part having a semi-circular ring shape and that suctions the machining waste and gas generated by the wire electric discharge machining.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 6, wherein the suction part is disposed, relative to the wire electrode, at an opposite side in a machining direction of the workpiece by the wire electrode.