Workholding for pulsed electrochemical machining
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsRusty M. Garner, Monica Sy Munoz, Damon Ward, Anthony F. Allen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pulsed electrochemical machining (pECM) system includes a pECM tool comprising a tool body defining a tool axis, the tool body comprising one or more electrodes, each of the one or more electrodes comprising an electrically conductive material and defining a working surface at a distal end of the tool axis configured to face a workpiece; an enclosure system configured to hold the workpiece, wherein the enclosure system comprises: a first clamp configured to grip a first end of the workpiece; a second clamp configured to grip a second end of the workpiece; and a backside support configured to support a span of the workpiece between the first end and the second end.
Claims19
A pulsed electrochemical machining (pECM) system, comprising:
- a pECM tool comprising a tool body defining a tool axis, the tool body comprising one or more electrodes, each of the one or more electrodes comprising an electrically conductive material and defining a working surface at a distal end of the tool axis configured to face a working surface of a workpiece;
- a pulsing power supply configured to output pulses of electrical energy via the one or more electrodes;
- an enclosure system configured to hold the workpiece, wherein the enclosure system comprises:
- a first clamp configured to grip a first end of the workpiece;
- a second clamp configured to grip a second end of the workpiece;
- and
- a backside support in physical contact with and configured to support a span of a non-working surface of the workpiece between the first end and the second end, wherein the backside support comprises:
- a plurality of height adjustable pins that each support a portion of the span.
A method for pulsed electrochemical machining (pECM) a workpiece, comprising:
- gripping a first end of the workpiece having a target surface and a non-target surface;
- gripping a second end of the workpiece;
- supporting, by a backside support, a span of the workpiece that extends between the first end and the second end, wherein the backside support is in physical contact with the non-target surface of the workpiece;
- generating a pulsed direct current between one or more electrodes of a machining tool and the workpiece, wherein the machining tool comprises a tool body defining a tool axis, the tool body comprising the one or more electrodes, each of the one or more electrodes comprising an electrically conductive material and defining a working surface at a distal end of the tool axis configured to face the workpiece, wherein the backside support comprises a plurality of height adjustable pins that each support a portion of the span;
- delivering an electrolyte into an interelectrode gap between the working surface of the one or more electrodes and the target surface of the workpiece;
- and
- positioning the working surface of the one or more electrodes relative to the target surface of the workpiece to remove material from the target surface of the workpiece.
A pulsed electrochemical machining (pECM) system, comprising:
- a pECM tool comprising a tool body defining a tool axis, the tool body comprising one or more electrodes, each of the one or more electrodes comprising an electrically conductive material and defining a working surface at a distal end of the tool axis configured to face a working surface of a workpiece;
- an enclosure system configured to hold the workpiece, wherein the enclosure system comprises:
- a first clamp configured to grip a first end of the workpiece;
- a second clamp configured to grip a second end of the workpiece;
- and
- a backside support in physical contact with and configured to support a span of a non-working surface of the workpiece between the first end and the second end, wherein the backside support comprises a plurality of pedestals connected to the workpiece via an adhesive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.