Electrolytic machining using pulsed electric current

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of electrolytically machining the surface of a workpiece by applying positive and negative electric current pulses alternately and repeatedly across the workpiece and a tooling electrode located oppositely in a neutral electrolyte so as to keep a predetermined gap therebetween, wherein the time interval from a negative pulse to a positive pulse is shorter than that from the positive pulse to the next positive pulse. The invention also relates to an apparatus for attaining the method comprising: a device for supporting the workpiece in an electrolytic machining tank; a device for supporting an electrode opposite to the workpiece so as to keep the gap; a power supply means for repeatedly applying across the workpiece and the electrode an electric current waveform wherein its polarity changes alternately and the time interval from a negative pulse to a positive pulse is shorter than that from the positive pulse to the next negative pulse; a device for supplying an electrolyte between the workpiece and the electrode; and a control system for controlling the workpiece fixing device, the electrode supporting device, the power supply means and the electrolyte supplying device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.