US 5,256,262 A · System and method for electrolytic deburring

Abstract

An electrolytic deburring system and method employing a relatively weakly conducting electrolyte with the cathode immersed in the electrolyte in which an anodic potential is applied to the workpiece being deburred. A conductive element acting as a virtual cathode is placed between the cathode and the part to provide a more conductive path than the existing path through the electrolyte to concentrate deburring action and/or shield a portion of the workpiece from the deburring action. For deburring a multiplicity of parts at the same time, two electrodes are immersed in the electrolyte and a potential difference is applied between them. Spaced parts placed between the electrodes assume potential differences leading to selective material removal from the relatively anodic portions of each part. The polarity of the applied potential may be reversed, thereby reversing the polarity of the potential differences between the parts to selectively remove material from the newly anodic portions of the parts.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An electrolytic deburring system, comprising:

means for containing an electrolyte;
cathode means for applying a cathodic potential in said electrolyte;
means for connecting an anodic potential to a part to be deburred when in contact with said electrolyte;
and
a conductive element within said container with at least a first end being between said cathode means and said part to change the current flow between said part and said cathode means for altering the deburring of the part;
said first end being spaced from said cathode means to prevent direct connection to said cathode means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for electrolytic deburring

Life of this patent

System and method for electrolytic deburring

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18