Wire-cut, electric discharge machining method

An automatic wire-cut, electric discharge machining method for cutting a workpiece having at least one machining start hole into a desired number of closed loop configurations by means of a wire-cut, electric discharge machine provided with an automatic wire feed mechanism for automatically installing a wire electrode on a wire electrode running system through the machining start hole, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) starting automatic electric discharge machining from a machining start hole corresponding to the closed loop configuration to be wire-cut;
• (b) performing the electric discharge machining in a first direction and along the closed loop configuration to a point of suspension of the electric discharge machining operation where a part of the closed loop configuration is left uncut, such that if the wire electrode breaks while machining along the first direction, the wire electrode is automatically reinserted in the start hole and machining automatically continues along the first direction until said point of suspension is reached;
• (c) removing the wire electrode from the workpiece;
• (d) fixing at least one portion of the machined closed loop configuration to the workpiece;
• (e) inserting the wire electrode into the machining start hole by the automatic wire feed mechanism;
• and
• (f) performing automatic electric discharge machining in a second direction to cut off the part left uncut, such that if the wire electrode breaks while machining along the second direction, the wire electrode is automatically reinserted in the start hole and machining automatically continues along the second direction.