Process of forming conical holes with an electrical discharge machining system
AssigneeBeaumont Machine Repair, Inc.
InventorsEdward Beaumont, Donald Rowland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical discharge machine is configured to (i) machine at least a portion of a workpiece through electrical discharge between the workpiece and a first machining electrode aligned by the electrode guide; (ii) generate a dressed machining electrode by engaging a machining electrode aligned by the electrode guide with the electrode dresser; and (iii) machine at least a portion of a workpiece through electrical discharge between the workpiece and the dressed machining electrode. Additional electrical discharge machines and methods of machining are provided.
Claims30
An electrical discharge machine comprising a machining electrode assembly, an electrode dresser, and a workpiece support, wherein:
- said machining electrode assembly comprises an electrode guide configured to align a machining tip of a machining electrode along a machining axis of said electrical discharge machine;
- said electrical discharge machine is configured to define a workpiece machining envelope encompassing workpiece machining points at which a machining electrode aligned by said electrode guide is able to machine at least a portion of a workpiece supported by said workpiece support;
- said workpiece machining points are defined through movement of an aligned machining electrode, said workpiece, or both said machining electrode and said workpiece;
- said electrical discharge machine is configured to direct a dielectric fluid through an interior fluid passage of an aligned machining electrode in the direction of a machining tip of said machining electrode;
- and
- said electrical discharge machine is configured to engage an aligned machining electrode and said electrode dresser and execute a dressing operation upon a machining tip of an aligned machining electrode.
An electrical discharge machine comprising an electrode dresser and an electrode guide configured to align a machining tip of a machining electrode along a machining axis of said electrical discharge machine, wherein said electrical discharge machine is configured to:
- machine at least a portion of a workpiece through electrical discharge between said workpiece and a first machining electrode aligned by said electrode guide;
- generate a dressed machining electrode by engaging a machining electrode aligned by said electrode guide with said electrode dresser;
- and
- machine at least a portion of a workpiece through electrical discharge between said workpiece and said dressed machining electrode.
An electrical discharge machine comprising:
- a machining electrode assembly comprising an electrode guide configured to align a machining tip of a machining electrode along a machining axis of said electrical discharge machine;
- and
- a tool change station comprising a plurality of electrode holders, each holding individual machining electrodes and each being configured to be releasably engaged to a rotary drive portion of said electrical discharge machine, wherein
- at least one of said machining electrodes comprises a first machining electrode defining a machining tip configured for formation of a machined hole in a workpiece,
- at least one of said machining electrodes comprises a dressed machining electrode defining a machining tip configured for formation of a diffuser portion of said machined hole characterized by cross sectional dimensions exceeding those of said machined hole, and
- said electrical discharge machine is configured to machine at least a portion of a workpiece through electrical discharge between said workpiece and said first machining electrode and between said workpiece and said dressed machining electrode.
A method of operating an electrical discharge machine comprising a machining electrode assembly comprising an electrode guide configured to align a machining tip of a machining electrode along a machining axis of said electrical discharge machine, said method comprising:
- selecting a suitable machining electrode holder from a plurality of electrode holders, each holding individual machining electrodes and each being configured to be releasably engaged to a rotary drive portion of said electrical discharge machine, wherein
- at least one of said machining electrodes comprises a first machining electrode defining a machining tip configured for formation of a machined hole in a workpiece, and
- at least one of said machining electrodes comprises a dressed machining electrode defining a machining tip configured for formation of a diffuser portion of said machined hole characterized by cross sectional dimensions exceeding those of said machined hole;
- machining at least a portion of a workpiece through electrical discharge between said workpiece and said first machining electrode;
- and
- machining at least a portion of a workpiece through electrical discharge between said workpiece and said dressed machining electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.