US 5,847,352 A · Method and apparatus for electrical discharge machining

Abstract

An electric discharge machining apparatus and method are provided first having a data storage for storing initial machining conditions such as a two-dimensional outline path for a machined form, dimensions of the machined form, a feed rate in the axial direction of an electrode for a given movement of the tool electrode in the horizontal direction, and an interval period of inline measurement. In addition, the apparatus measures a machining depth at each interval period of inline measurement. The apparatus also computes machining parameters such as a machining depth for each machining pass, a number of remaining passes of machining which are to be executed, and also increments an outline offset according to the measured machining depth. An electrode position control then provides positional control of a tool electrode according to the computed machining parameters.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An electric discharge machining apparatus for imposing a voltage across a tool electrode and a work for processing the work into a desired form by three- dimensional control comprising:

an initial machining condition storing means for storing therein a two-dimensional outline indicating a path for machining, dimensions of a machined form, a feed rate in the axial direction of the electrode for a given movement of the tool electrode in the horizontal direction, and an interval of inline measurement;
an inline measuring means for measuring a machining depth at each said interval;
a machining parameter computing means for computing machining parameters including a machining depth for each machining pass, a number of remaining machining passes, and an increment for outline offset according to the machining depth measured by said inline measuring means;
and
an electrode position control means for providing positional control over the tool electrode according to the machining parameters computed by said machining parameter computing means.

2 more elements

An electric discharge machining method for imposing a voltage across a tool electrode and a work to process the work into a desired form by three-dimensional control comprising the steps of:

storing initial machining conditions such as two-dimensional outline indicating a path for machining, dimensions of a machined form, a feed rate in the axial direction of the electrode for movement of the tool electrode in the horizontal direction, and an interval of inline measurement;
executing an inline measurement for measuring a machining depth at each said interval;
computing machining parameters including a machining depth for each machining pass, a number of times of remaining passes, and an increment for outline offset according to the machining depth measured in said inline measurement step;
and
providing positional control over the tool electrode according to the machining parameters computed by said machining parameter computing means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for electrical discharge machining

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for electrical discharge machining

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8