Tool holding system

A fixture for mounting of a round electrode post holder having a transverse indexing pin in predetermined positions relative thereto, the fixture comprising:

• a fixture body including a surface having a bore therein of a round cross-sectional shape for receiving the round post therein;
• grooves recessed in the fixture surface and extending generally radially from the bore for receiving the indexing pin therein with the post in the bore;
• clamp members spaced from the grooves for being shifted toward the grooves to clamp the pin in one of the grooves;
• and
• cam clamp operators mounted to the fixture operable to shift the clamp members toward the grooves for clamping of the pin in the groove to locate the post angularly relative to the fixture for accurate machining of the electrode to form the precise predetermined shape thereof and of workpieces with the precisely formed electrode mounted to the post.

An electric discharge machining system comprising:

• an electrode having a predetermined precisely formed shape;
• an electrode mounting post having a generally round cross-sectional configuration and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;
• mounting surfaces of the electrode and post including mating portions thereof which define a plurality of predetermined positions for mounting of the electrode to the post;
• apertures formed in the mounting surfaces of the electrode and post which are aligned with each other with the electrode located in one of its predetermined positions on the post for receiving a fastener to clamp the mating portions together fixing the electrode in the one predetermined position on the post;
• an indexing pin of the post extending normal to the longitudinal axis thereof;
• a fixture for the post and including a surface having a bore therein of a round cross-sectional shape for receiving the round post therein;
• grooves recessed in the fixture surface and extending generally radially from the bore for receiving the indexing pin therein with the post in the bore;
• clamp members spaced from the grooves for being shifted toward the grooves to clamp the pin in one of the grooves;
• and
• cam clamp operators mounted to the fixture operable to shift the clamp members toward the grooves for clamping of the pin in the groove to locate the post angularly relative to the fixture for accurate machining of the electrode to form the precise predetermined shape thereof and of workpieces with the precisely formed electrode mounted to the post.

A combination of a fixture and a tool holder for carrying a tool with the fixture mounting the tool holder in predetermined positions relative thereto, the combination comprising:

• an elongate post of the tool holder having a round cross-sectional configuration with a longitudinal axis extending between opposite ends of the post;
• an indexing member attached to the post extending transverse to the post axis;
• one of the ends of the post operably connected to the tool for cutting metal material from a workpiece;
• a fixture body having a bore therein of round cross-sectional shape for rotatably receiving a portion of the round post therein with the round post portion including the other end of the post opposite the one end with the one end of the post exterior of the bore;
• recesses in the fixture body extending generally radially from the bore, the recesses being at predetermined positions about the bore so that with the indexing member received in one of the recesses the position of the post will be predetermined relative to the fixture body;
• a side of the fixture body having an opening therein extending generally transverse to the fixture body bore;
• an actuator for being connected to the opening operable for fixing the indexing member in one of the recesses;
• and
• threads in the opening in the side of the fixture body and threads of the actuator configured to allow rotation of the actuator to advance the actuator in the fixture body side opening to fix the indexing member in one of the recesses.