Holding and reference system for a wire spark-erosion machine

In an apparatus for securing a workpiece within the working zone of a wire spark erosion machine, the machine including a mounting table having at least one planar base reference surface outside the working zone, the base reference surface having a width extending in an x-direction and a length extending in a y-direction perpendicular to the x-direction, the improvement comprising:

• a first reference piece having a planar bottom surface;
• means for attaching said first reference piece on the base reference surface with said bottom surface engaging the base reference surface;
• the cross-section of said first reference piece in the x-direction having a generally dovetail-shaped profile;
• an oblique planar surface on said first reference piece extending in the y-direction to provide a first reference surface in the x-direction;
• and
• a planar side surface of said first reference piece extending in the y-direction and lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said bottom surface of said first reference piece and opposite to said oblique planar surface to provide a second reference surface in the x-direction.

In an apparatus for securing a workpiece within a working zone of a wire spark erosion machine including a mounting table having at least one planar base reference surface outside the working zone, the base reference surface having a width extending in an x-direction and a length extending in a y-direction perpendicular to the x-direction, the improvement comprising:

• a first reference piece having a planar bottom surface;
• means for attaching said first reference piece bottom surface to the base reference surface with said bottom surface engaging the base reference surface;
• the cross-section of said first reference piece in the x-direction having a generally dovetail-shaped profile;
• an oblique planar surface on said first reference piece extending in the y-direction to provide a first reference surface in the x-direction;
• a planar side surface extending in the y-direction and lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said bottom surface of said first reference piece for providing a second surface in the x-direction;
• and
• a second reference piece having a planar surface extending in the y-direction and removably attachable to said first reference piece, said planar surface of said second reference piece being engageable with said oblique planar surface of said first reference piece;
• so that a workpiece may be operatively connected to said second reference piece outside the working zone and then transferred to the working zone together with said second reference piece by attaching said second reference piece to said first reference piece attached to the base reference surface.