Automatic set-up electroerosion machining method and apparatus

Apparatus for electroerosion machining comprising:

• dispenser means for holding and dispensing a supply of a filamentary electrode and comprising a supply reel (73) on which said electrode is wound before being dispensed,
• means for driving and guiding said filamentary electrode from said dispenser means, through an operating zone to a take-up location, said driving and guiding means including a dispensing transport means (75) and a take-up transport means (79) respectively located on opposite sides of said operating zone and including also guiding devices (77, 771, 77a, 772) for said filamentary electrode;
• means on at least one side of said operating zone for applying electric potential to said filamentary electrode;
• means for holding a workpiece at least partly in said operating zone in proximity to said filamentary electrode;
• electronic machining control means for causing relative movement of said workpiece during application of electroerosion potential across the gap between said filamentary electrode and said workpiece, whereby a predetermined contour may be machined;
• means for propelling (13, 81, 82, 83, 84) a free end of said electrode (4) from or across said operating zone until it reaches said transport means (79) of said electrode driving and guiding system (7) on the take-up side of said operating zone, and
• electrode holding and cutting means (10) provided at one side of said operating zone and, at the other side of said operating zone, both electrode holding means (11) and electrode connecting means (12) (FIGS. 3 and 4).

Apparatus for electroerosion machining comprising:

• dispenser means for holding and dispensing a supply of a filamentary electrode;
• means for driving and guiding said filamentary electrode from said dispenser means, through an operating zone to a take-up location, said driving and guiding means including a dispensing transport means (75) and a take-up transport means (79) respectively located on opposite sides of said operating zone and including also guiding devices (77, 771, 77a, 772) for said filamentary electrode;
• means on at least one side of said operating zone for applying electric potential to said filamentary electrode;
• means for holding a workpiece at least partly in said operating zone in proximity to said filamentary electrode;
• electronic machining control means for causing relative movement of said workpiece during application of electroerosion potential across the gap between said filamentary electrode and said workpiece, whereby a predetermined contour may be machined;
• means for propelling (13, 81, 82, 83, 84) a free end of said electrode (4) from or across said operating zone until it reaches said transport means (79) of said electrode driving and guiding system (7) on the take-up side of said operating zone, and
• combined means (15) for electrode holding, electrode cutting and electrode connecting located at one side of said operating zone (FIG. 5).

Apparatus for electroerosion machining comprising:

• dispenser means for holding and dispensing a supply of a filamentary electrode;
• means for driving and guiding said filamentary electrode from said dispenser means, through an operating zone to a take-up location, said driving and guiding means including a dispensing transport means and a take-up transport means respectively located on opposite sides of said operating zone and including also guiding devices (77, 771, 77a, 772) for said filamentary electrode;
• means on at least one side of said operating zone for applying electric potential to said filamentary electrode;
• means for holding a workpiece at least partly in said operating zone in proximity to said filamentary electrode;
• electronic machining control means for causing relative movement of said workpiece during application of electroerosion potential across the gap between said filamentary electrode and said workpiece, whereby a predetermined contour may be machined;
• means for propelling (13, 81, 82, 83, 84) a free end of said electrode (4) from or across said operating zone until it reaches said transport means (79) of said electrode driving and guiding system (7) on the take-up side of said operating zone, and
• electrode holding and cutting means (10) and electrode connecting means (12) located at one and the same side of said operating zone (FIG. 6).

Apparatus for electroerosion machining comprising:

• dispenser means for holding and dispensing a supply of a filamentary electrode;
• means for driving and guiding said filamentary electrode from said dispenser means, through an operating zone to a take-up location, said driving and guiding means including a dispensing transport means (75) and a take-up transport means (79) respectively located on opposite sides of said operating zone and including also guiding devices (77, 771, 77a, 772) for said filamentary electrode;
• means on at least one side of said operating zone for applying electric potential to said filamentary electrode;
• means for holding a workpiece at least partly in said operating zone in proximity to said filamentary electrode;
• electronic machining control means for causing relative movement of said workpiece during application of electroerosion potential across the gap between said filamentary electrode and said workpiece, whereby a predetermined contour may be machined;
• means for propelling (13, 81, 82, 83, 84) a free end of said electrode (4) from or across said operating zone until it reaches said transport means (79) of said electrode driving and guiding system (7) on the take-up side of said operating zone, and
• grapple means (13) mounted on that part of said electrode driving and guiding means (7) located on the take-up side of said operating zone, said grapple means (13) being equipped with annular grasping arms (132, 133) pivoted on a common pivot axis (134) and actuatable by a drive motor (3a) for grasping said electrode (4) and holding it fast (FIGS. 9a, 9b, 10, 11, 12, 13).

Apparatus for electroerosion machining comprising:

• dispenser means for holding and dispensing a supply of a filamentary electrode;
• means for driving and guiding said filamentary electrode from said dispenser means, through an operating zone to a take-up location, said driving and guiding means including a dispensing transport means (75) and a take-up transport means (79) respectively located on opposite sides of said operating zone and including also guiding devices (77, 771, 77a, 772) for said filamentary electrode;
• means on at least one side of said operating zone for applying electric potential to said filamentary electrode;
• means for holding a workpiece at least partly in said operating zone in proximity to said filamentary electrode;
• electronic machining control means for causing relative movement of said workpiece during application of electroerosion potential across the gap between said filamentary electrode and said workpiece, whereby a predetermined contour may be machined;
• means for propelling (13, 81, 82, 83, 84) a free end of said electrode (4) from or across said operating zone until it reaches said transport means (79) of said electrode driving and guiding system (7) on the take-up side of said operating zone, and
• grapple means (13) mounted on that part of said electrode driving and guiding means (7) located on the take-up side of said operating zone, said grapple means (13) being equipped with grasping members including split spreading grasping arms and means actuatable by a drive motor (3a) for constraining said grasping arms and thereby grasping said electrode (4) and holding it fast (FIGS. 9a, 9b, 10, 11, 12, 13).