US 5,149,405 A · Four-axis ECM machine and method of operation

Abstract

A machine for electrochemically machining (ECM) a workpiece having a stacking axis and first and second opposite sides includes a pair of cathode tools. The first and second tools have first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, disposed substantially perpendicularly to the workpiece stacking axis. The first and second tools also include the first and second transverse axes, respectively, disposed perpendicularly to the first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, and substantially parallel to the workpiece stacking axis. The machine is effective for practicing an improved method of moving the first and second tools along the first and second longitudinal axes and along the first and second transverse axes, respectively, toward the workpiece for the electrochemical machining thereof. By moving the respective cathode tools along both longitudinal and transverse axes, a selectively variable resultant feedrate direction is obtained which is inclined relative to the workpiece stacking axis.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of electrochemically machining (ECM) a stationary workpiece having a stacking axis and first and second opposite sides using first and second cathode tools having first and second longitudinal and transverse axes, respectively, comprising the steps of:

supplying a positive voltage to said workpiece and a negative voltage to said first and second tools;
channeling an electrolyte between said workpiece and said first and second tools;
and
moving said first and second tools along said first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, toward said workpiece and substantially perpendicularly to said workpiece stacking axis, and along said first and second transverse axes, respectively, substantially parallel to said workpiece stacking axis for electrochemically machining said workpiece, said first tool being translated along said first longitudinal axis independently of translation along said first transverse axis for obtaining a selectively variable resultant feedrate direction for said first tool, and said second tool being translated along said second longitudinal axis independently of translation along said second transverse axis for obtaining a selectively variable resultant feedrate direction for said second tool.

1 more element

A machine for electrochemically machining (ECM) a workpiece having a stacking axis and first and second opposite sides comprising:

means for fixedly mounting said workpiece stationary in space;
a pair of cathode tools including:
a first tool having a first longitudinal axis, a first transverse axis disposed substantially perpendicularly thereto, and adapted to be disposed on said workpiece first side;
a second tool having a second longitudinal axis, a second transverse axis disposed substantially perpendicularly thereto, and adapted to be disposed on said workpiece second side;
and
said first and second longitudinal axes adapted to be disposed substantially perpendicularly to said stacking axis, and said first and second transverse axes adapted to be disposed substantially parallel to said stacking axis;
means for supplying a positive voltage to said workpiece and a negative voltage to said first and second tools;
means for channeling an electrolyte between said workpiece and said first and second tools;
and
means for moving said first and second tools along said first and second longitudinal axes and along said firs and second transverse axes, respectively, toward said workpiece for electrochemically machining said workpiece, said first tool being translated along said first longitudinal axis independently of translation along said first transverse axis for obtaining a selectively variable resultant feedrate direction for said first tool, and said second tool being translated along said second longitudinal axis independently of translation along said second transverse axis for obtaining a selectively variable resultant feedrate direction for said second tool.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Four-axis ECM machine and method of operation

Life of this patent

Four-axis ECM machine and method of operation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25