Shaped-tube electrolytic machining process
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorW. Neil Peters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process of electrolytic machining holes of uniform diameter in a conductive workpiece, particularly one having a slotted lower portion. Drilling is accomplished electrochemically by providing a conductive tube, passing an electrolytic fluid through the tube to the workpiece, and passing a DC current between the tube and the workpiece through the electrolyte. The DC current causes material from the workpiece to "deplate" into the electrolyte, resulting in the formation of the hole. Hole diameter is made uniform by maintaining the supplied DC current constant, despite sudden changes in the conductivity of the electrolyte, the workpiece or both.
Claims21
A shaped-tube electrolytic machining process for drilling a hole of uniform diameter in a conductive workpiece comprising:
- drilling a hole in the workpiece by advancing a conductive tube toward the workpiece while passing an electrolyte through the tube into contact with the workpiece, passing a fixed electric current between the tube and the workpiece through the electrolyte and maintaining the fixed electric current by sensing the fixed electric current, comparing the sensed fixed electric current against a reference signal and adjusting the fixed electric current in response to the comparison, whereby conductive material from the workpiece is deplated uniformly throughout the hole.
A shaped-tube electrolytic machining process for drilling a hole of uniform diameter in a conductive workpiece comprising:
- drilling a hole in the workpiece by advancing a conductive tube toward the workpiece while both passing an electrolyte through the tube and into contact with the workpiece and passing a fixed electric current between the tube and the workpiece through the electrolyte, whereby conductive material from the workpiece is deplated uniformly throughout the hole, wherein the fixed electric current has a valve of 160-170 amps.
A shaped-tube electrolytic machining process for drilling a hole of uniform diameter in a conductive workpiece comprising:
- drilling a hole in the workpiece by advancing a conductive tube toward the workpiece while both passing an electrolyte through the tube and into contact with the workpiece and passing a fixed electric current between the tube and the workpiece through the electrolyte, whereby conductive material from the workpiece is deplated uniformly throughout the hole, wherein the workpiece has slots on a surface distal from where said drilling is initiated and toward which the conductive tube is advanced.
A shaped-tube electrolytic machining process for drilling a hole of uniform diameter in a conductive workpiece comprising:
- drilling a hole in the workpiece by advancing a conductive tube toward the workpiece while passing an electrolyte through the tube and into contact with the workpiece and passing and maintaining a fixed electric current between the tube and the workpiece through the electrolyte, whereby conductive material from the workpiece is deplated uniformly throughout the hole;
- and
- maintaining the fixed electric current by monitoring changes in the fixed electric current, comparing the monitored fixed electric current with a reference and adjusting the fixed electric current in response to the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.