Method and apparatus for vector machine control

In an apparatus for vector machine control of a tool and a workpiece to perform desired electric discharge machine operations on said workpiece, said apparatus comprising:

• first processor means for receiving and storing input data relating to said desired electric discharge machine operations, and for processing said input data to derive Z-axis control data for controlling movement of said tool in a direction parallel to said Z-axis, and
• second processor means for receiving said input data stored by said first processor means, and for processing said input data so as to develop vector magnitude control data and vector angle control data for controlling movement of said tool in a direction corresponding to said vector angle through a distance corresponding to said vector magnitude;
• and
• gap detector means for detecting a present gap between said tool and said workpiece, and for providing corresponding gap detector data to said second processor means;
• wherein said gap detector means comprises first means for measuring a gap voltage between said tool and said workpiece to develop a gap voltage signal, second means responsive to said gap voltage signal for deriving a forward advance signal corresponding to needed forward advance of said tool relative to said workpiece, third means responsive to said gap voltage signal for deriving an advance control signal, and subtracting means for subtracting said advance control signal from said forward advance signal to derive an analog servo control signal.

In an apparatus for vector machine control of a tool and a workpiece to perform desired electric discharge machine operations on said workpiece, said apparatus comprising:

• means for providing input data relating to said desired electric discharging machine operations, said input data including desired vector magnitude data and desired vector angle data,
• processing means for processing said input data to derive vector magnitude control data and vector angle control data for controlling movement of said tool, and
• polar translator means for advancing said tool, in the direction of said desired vector angle, through a distance equal to said desired vector magnitude, and for withdrawing said tool in a direction opposite to said desired vector angle by a distance equal to said desired vector magnitude;
• the improvement wherein said polar translator means comprises a motor for effecting said advancing and withdrawing of said tool in accordance with a polar coordinate frame of reference, and said apparatus further comprises polar interface means responsive to said vector magnitude control data and said vector angle control data from said processing means for providing corresponding control signals to said motor, whereby said tool is advanced and withdrawn in accordance with said vector magnitude control data and said vector angle control data.

In an electric discharge machine comprising a tool and a table capable of supporting a workpiece, said tool and said workpiece defining an axis having an axial direction, a power supply for supplying voltage across the tool and the workpiece to effect electric discharge machining, means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in said axial direction, and means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a plane perpendicular to said axial direction, wherein said means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in said plane perpendicular to said axial direction displaces said tool and said workpiece in accordance with desired vector magnitude data and desired vector angle data relating to a polar coordinate frame of reference, wherein said means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in an axial direction displaces said tool and said workpiece to a first offset position, and said means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a plane perpendicular to said axial direction relatively displaces said tool and said workpiece in accordance with first desired vector magnitude data and first desired vector angle data, and wherein said means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in an axial direction displaces said tool and said workpiece to a second offset position, and said means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a plane perpendicular to said axial direction relatively displaces said tool and said workpiece in accordance with second desired vector magnitude data and second desired vector angle data,

A method for electric discharge machining utilizing a tool and a table capable of supporting a workpiece, said tool and said workpiece defining an axis having an axial direction, comprising the steps of:

• relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in said axial direction, and
• relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a plane perpendicular to said axial direction,
• wherein said step of relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a plane perpendicular to said axial direction comprises relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in accordance with desired vector magnitude data and desired vector angle data relating to a polar coordinate frame of reference, wherein said step of relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in an axial direction comprises relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece to a first offset position, and wherein said step of relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a plane perpendicular to said axial direction comprises relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece from a first origin point along a first desired vector angle through a distance equal to a first desired vector magnitude, and relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a reverse manner so as to return to said first origin point, said method comprising the additional steps of further relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in said axial direction to a second offset position, relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece from a second origin point along a second desired vector angle through a second desired vector magnitude, and relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a reverse manner so as to return to said second origin point.

A method for electric discharge machining utilizing a tool and a table capable of supporting a workpiece, said tool and said workpiece defining an axis having an axial direction, comprising the steps of:

• relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in said axial direction to a first position;
• relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a first plane perpendicular to said axial direction from said first position along a desired vector angle through a distance equal to a desired vector magnitude, and relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a reverse manner so as to return to said first position;
• relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in said axial direction from said first position to a second position;
• and
• relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a second plane perpendicular to said axial direction from said second position along a desired vector angle through a distance equal to a desired vector magnitude, and relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a reverse manner so as to return to said second position.

An apparatus for electric discharge machining utilizing a tool and a table capable of supporting a workpiece, said tool and said workpiece defining an axis having an axial direction, comprising:

• means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in said axial direction to a first position;
• means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a plane perpendicular to said axial direction from said first position along a desired vector angle through a distance equal to a desired vector magnitude, and for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a reverse manner so as to return to said first position;
• means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in said axial direction from said first position to a second position;
• and
• means for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a second plane perpendicular to said axial direction from said second position along a desired vector angle through a distance equal to a desired vector magnitude, and for relatively displacing said tool and said workpiece in a reverse manner so as to return to said second position.