Electrical discharge machining electrode holder
AssigneeMGS Mfg. Group, Inc.
InventorScott Spitza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrode holder for EDM machines using automatic tool changing techniques provides a base plate that may be attached to an adapter of third party chuck systems and a simple compressed slot mechanism for holding the electrode without the need for epoxy or the like.
Claims15
An electrode holder for use with an automatic tool changing system having at least two chucks that may alternately receive a tool, the chucks holding the tool for automatic removal and insertion at a predetermined fixed position with respect to the chuck, the tool having locating surfaces engaging locating surfaces on the chucks, the electrode holder comprising:
- a base having a locating surface sized to engage the locating surfaces of the chucks;
- a holder shaft extending from the base having an electrode receiving slot sized to received a portion of a graphite electrode;
- and
- a clamp screw drawing sides of the slot together about the electrode to hold the electrode therein.
An electrode assembly for use with an automatic tool changing system having at least two chucks that may alternately receive a tool, the chucks holding the tool for automatic removal and insertion at a predetermined fixed position with respect to the chuck, the tool having locating surfaces at a first face of the tool plate, the electrode assembly comprising:
- a base having a locating surface sized to engage the locating surfaces of the chucks;
- a holder shaft extending from the base having an electrode receiving slot sized to received a portion of a graphite electrode, the holder shaft including a coolant flow channel exiting from a bottom of the slot receiving the graphite electrode;
- and
- a graphite electrode having a central coolant channel aligning with the coolant flow channel of the holder shaft and having a perpendicular mounting bore intersecting the coolant flow channel;
- a clamp screw passing through sides of the slot and the mounting bore of the graphite electrode drawing sides of the slot together about the electrode to hold the electrode therein, the mounting screw sized to be smaller than the mounting bore to allow passage of coolant flow around the mounting screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.