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US 5,496,983 AGranted
Laser guided discharge machining apparatus and method
AssigneesAgency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade & Industry
InventorYoshinobu Hoshi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser guided discharge machining apparatus includes a vacuum chamber in which pressure can be reduced to 3000 Pa or below and in which a workpiece is accommodated as well as a discharge electrode that emits charged particles. A laser beam is used to guide the discharge to thereby enable parts of the workpiece to be discharge machined which are not in a direct line from the discharge electrode.
Claims3
A laser guided discharge machining apparatus comprising:
- a vacuum chamber in which pressure can be reduced to 3000 Pa or below;
- a workpiece accommodated in the vacuum chamber;
- a discharge electrode that emits charged particles, said discharge electrode being accommodated in the vacuum chamber;
- a laser that projects a laser beam toward the vacuum chamber;
- and
- laser beam guidance means for projecting the laser beam at a part of the workpiece to be machined that is not in a direct line of sight relative to the discharge electrode.
3 more elements
A laser guided discharge machining method, comprising:
- housing a workpiece and a discharge electrode in a vacuum chamber;
- reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber to 3000 Pa or below;
- projecting a laser beam at a part of the workpiece that is not in a direct line of sight with the discharge electrode;
- and
- emitting charged particles with said discharge electrode to machine said part of said workpiece.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.