Wire-cut electroerosion machine and method of operating same

Abstract

A wire-cut electroerosion machine as well as a method of operating the same wherein a wire electrode is axially and continuously transported from supply means to take-up means to travel through a cutting zone between a pair of wire guide members in which a workpiece is positioned. The machine includes rotary traction means having a first rotary shaft for advancing the wire through the cutting zone from the supply means and permitting it to be collected by the take-up means, and rotary brake means having a second rotary shaft for applying a braking force to the wire to cause it to be stretched between the guide members while being continuously advanced through the cutting zone. The improvement includes means for and steps of: sensing the rotation of the first rotary shaft to produce a first sensing signal representing the rate of rotation thereof; sensing the rotation of the second rotary shaft to produce a second sensing signal representing the rate of rotation thereof; and deriving from the first and second sensing signals an output signal representing a deviation of tension of the wire traveling between a brake rotary means and the traction rotary means or the guide members from a predetermined value. The method and system for detecting a change in the wire tension may also embody means for applying a mechanical vibration to the wire traveling between the guide members and monitoring a vibrational response of the wire.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.