Electro-discharge electrode and method of use
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorMark Lee Humphrey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrode for machining a pattern in a workpiece has a conductive body with a lattice of closed cells and a plurality of open cells. The open cells are positioned at an edge of the lattice of closed cells. The closed cells are defined by interconnected webs, and the open cells are defined by fins extending from the interconnected webs. A thickness of the fins is less than a thickness of the webs. In use, the electrode is positioned at a plurality of locations on the workpiece, such that a position of the fins of the electrode at each location overlaps a position of the fins of the electrode at an adjacent location. The pattern is formed at each of the plurality of locations by passing electrical charges repeatedly between the electrode and the workpiece and advancing the electrode into the workpiece.
Claims12
An electrode for machining a pattern in a workpiece, the electrode comprising:
- a conductive body having a lattice of closed cells and a plurality of open cells, the open cells positioned at an edge of the lattice of closed cells;
- wherein the closed cells are defined by interconnected webs and wherein the open cells are defined by fins extending from the interconnected webs;
- and
- wherein a thickness of the fins is less than a thickness of the webs.
A method of machining a pattern in a workpiece, comprising:
- providing a shaped electrode including the pattern, the pattern defined by interconnected webs forming a lattice of closed cells, and fins extending from the interconnected webs to form open cells along at least one edge of the lattice of closed cells, wherein a thickness of the fins is less than a thickness of the webs;
- positioning the electrode at a plurality of locations on the workpiece, wherein a position of the fins of the electrode at each location overlap a position of the fins of the electrode at an adjacent location;
- forming the pattern at each of the plurality of locations by passing electrical charges repeatedly between the electrode and the workpiece and advancing the electrode into the workpiece.
A method of machining a pattern in a workpiece, comprising:
- providing a shaped electrode including the pattern, the pattern defined by interconnected webs forming a lattice of closed cells, and fins extending from the interconnected webs to form open cells along at least one edge of the lattice of closed cells, wherein a thickness of the fins is less than a thickness of the webs;
- positioning the electrode at a first location on the workpiece;
- forming the pattern at the first location by passing electrical charges repeatedly between the electrode and the workpiece and advancing the electrode into the workpiece;
- positioning the electrode at a subsequent location on the workpiece such that a position of the fins of the electrode in the subsequent location overlap a position of the fins of the electrode in the first location;
- and
- forming the pattern at the subsequent location by passing electrical charges repeatedly between the electrode and the workpiece and advancing the electrode into the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.