Electrochemical machining method and apparatus
AssigneeUltra Systems Limited
InventorBoris Tchugunov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrochemical machining technique involves moving a cathode (2) towards an anodic workpiece (1). A current is passed through an electrolyte which flows between the cathode (2) and workpiece (1) so as to cause material to be removed electrolytically from the workpiece (1). A vibratory movement is imposed on the cathode (2) and the current passed between the cathode (2) and workpiece (1) is also varied. The vibratory movement may consist of a main sinusoidal oscillation and a secondary ultrasonic vibration, and the current variation is synchronized with the main vibration so that current pulses, and ultrasonic vibration pulses, coincide, with a predetermined small phase shift, with peaks of the main vibration corresponding to the smallest gap between the cathode (2) and workpiece (1).
Claims48
An electrochemical machining technique wherein a cathode is advanced towards an anodic workpiece in the presence of an electrolyte and an electrical current is passed between the cathode and the workpiece through the electrolyte so as to cause material to be removed electrolytically from the surface of the material wherein vibratory movement is imposed on the cathode so as to cause the gap between the cathode and the workpiece to vary, and the electrical current is also varied wherein the vibratory movement imposed on the cathode comprises main and secondary vibrations.
A machine assembly for use in performing electrochemical machining of a workpiece comprising a cathode support, a support for the workpiece, means for supplying an electrolyte between the cathode and workpiece, means for supplying an electrical current to the cathode and the workpiece, means for advancing the cathode towards the workpiece, means for applying vibratory movement comprising main and secondary vibrations to the cathode to vary the gap between the cathode and the workpiece, and means for varying the electrical current supplied to the cathode and the workpiece.
An electrochemical machining technique wherein a cathode is advanced towards an anodic workpiece in the presence of an electrolyte and an electrical current is passed between the cathode and the workpiece through the electrolyte so as to cause material to be removed electrolytically from the surface of the material wherein vibratory movement is imposed on the cathode so as to cause the gap between the cathode and the workpiece to vary, and the electrical current is also varied on a periodic basis with a phase relationship to the vibratory movement, wherein the phase relationship is adjustable so as to lag or lead slightly the bottom-dead-centre position by a negative or positive phase value which can be preset.
A machine assembly for use in performing electrochemical machining of a workpiece comprising a cathode support, a support for the workpiece, means for supplying an electrolyte between the cathode and workpiece, means for supplying an electrical current to the cathode and the workpiece, means for advancing the cathode towards the workpiece, means for applying vibratory movement to the cathode to vary the gap between the cathode and the workpiece, and means for varying the electrical current supplied to the cathode and the workpiece on a periodic basis with a phase relationship to the vibratory movement, wherein the phase relationship is adjustable so as to lag or lead slightly the bottom-dead-centre position by a negative or positive phase value which can be preset.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.