Methods and apparatuses of oscillatory pulsed electrochemical machining
AssigneeVoxel Innovations, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Herrington, Eric Rountree
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique of removing material from metal parts referred to as OPECM and a corresponding OPECM processing machine are disclosed. A tool electrode is manufactured for removing material from a target workpiece, and the workpiece and tool electrode are fixed into a processing machine that imparts an oscillatory motion path or profile and applies a voltage through a flowing electrolyte solution. The disclosed technique and processing machine removes material from the surface of the target workpiece through proximal surface dissolution as the workpiece and tool electrode are brought within proximity of one another.
Claims20
A method of electrochemical machining, the method comprising:
- designing a tool electrode to be used for removing material from a target workpiece, wherein the shape of the tool electrode is based on the shape of the target workpiece;
- fixing the target workpiece into a first platform of a processing machine;
- fixing the tool electrode into a second platform of the processing machine;
- wherein the target workpiece and the tool electrode are aligned when fixed into the processing machine such that there is a gap between a surface of the target workpiece and a surface of the tool electrode;
- and
- removing material from the target workpiece by causing the tool electrode to oscillate while moving in a predetermined motion path relative to the target workpiece while applying a voltage across the gap between the surface of the target workpiece and the surface of the tool electrode,
- wherein the predetermined motion path provides motion in three dimensions along a Hamiltonian path around the target workpiece.
An apparatus for electrochemical machining, the apparatus comprising:
- a first platform for mounting a target workpiece, wherein the first platform includes a mounting feature;
- a second platform for mounting a tool electrode, wherein the second platform includes a mounting feature;
- wherein the target workpiece and the tool electrode are aligned when mounted to the first platform and the second platform such that there is a gap between a surface of the target workpiece and a surface of the tool electrode;
- a motion controller configured to cause the tool electrode to oscillate while moving in a predetermined motion path relative to the target workpiece, wherein the predetermined motion path is stored in a memory of the motion controller, wherein the predetermined motion path provides motion in three dimensions along a Hamiltonian path around the target workpiece;
- a voltage controller configured to apply a voltage across the gap between the surface of the target workpiece and the surface of the tool electrode;
- and
- an electrolytic solution that creates an electrical resistance in the gap between the surface of the target workpiece and the surface of the tool electrode, wherein the electrolytic solution flows in said gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.