Holding apparatus, holding method thereof, wire electrical discharge machining apparatus, and machining method thereof

A method of holding a workpiece by using a holding apparatus used in electrical discharge machining for cutting the workpiece into slices at intervals of wires arranged in parallel to each other, the method comprising:

• holding, by a holding unit of the holding apparatus, the workpiece so as to prevent the workpiece from falling from the holding apparatus;
• and
• providing, by an energization unit of the holding apparatus, electrical continuity between the energization unit and the workpiece so as to pass current through the workpiece, wherein:
• the holding unit is disposed outside a place at which the wires and the holding unit interfere with each other;
• the energization unit is disposed at a place at which the cutting of the workpiece into slices by the wires ends;
• and
• a portion of the energization unit, which is brought into contact with the workpiece at the place at which the cutting of the workpiece into slices ends, has a surface shape that is prevented from conforming to a machining surface of the workpiece which is cut into slices.

A wire electrical discharge machining apparatus for cutting a workpiece into slices at intervals of wires arranged in parallel to each other, the wire electrical discharge machining apparatus comprising:

• a holding unit arranged to hold the workpiece so as to prevent the workpiece from falling;
• and
• an energization unit arranged to energize the workpiece so as to pass current through the workpiece, wherein:
• the holding unit is disposed outside a place at which the wires and the holding unit interfere with each other;
• the energization unit is disposed at a place at which the cutting of the workpiece into slices by the wires ends;
• and
• a portion of the energization unit, which is brought into contact with the workpiece at the place at which the cutting of the workpiece into slices ends, has a surface shape that is prevented from conforming to a machining surface of the workpiece which is cut into slices.

A method of machining a workpiece by using a wire electrical discharge machining apparatus for cutting the workpiece into slices at intervals of wires arranged in parallel to each other, the method comprising:

• holding, by a holding unit of the wire electrical discharge machining apparatus, the workpiece so as to prevent the workpiece from falling;
• and
• providing, by an energization unit of the wire electrical discharge machining apparatus, electrical continuity between the energization unit and the workpiece so as to pass current through the workpiece, wherein:
• the holding unit is disposed outside a place at which the wires and the holding unit interfere with each other;
• the energization unit is disposed at a place at which the cutting of the workpiece into slices by the wires ends;
• and
• a portion of the energization unit, which is brought into contact with the workpiece at the place at which the cutting of the workpiece into slices ends, has a surface shape that is prevented from conforming to a machining surface of the workpiece which is cut into slices.