Abstract: An electrical discharge machine with a machine is shown bed, a work tank filled with a dielectric fluid and vertically adjustable in which a work table is arranged, a generator and a control unit. All units of the machine are surrounded by a metal structure. Additional units can be integrated into the metal structure.

Abstract: EDM machine for machining of a stationary workpiece including a device for moving the machining head of the machine and hence the tool along the Z axis and a cross movements system with two chariots each sliding along one of the reference axes X and Y of the machine for moving the machining head along these axes. A main frame body is shaped as a cube having four vertical walls joined together so as to delimit a square space all these walls being immovably attached to the same base forming the lower face of the cube and to the horizontal element with an opening cut out in it forming the upper face of the cube. An assembly designed to move the machining head along the Z axis along at least one of the chariots of the system in the X-axis and/or Y-axis of cross movements is mounted above the upper face of the cube thus resting on four pillars formed by the edges of the cube delimited by the four vertical walls.

Abstract: An electroerosian wire cutting machine with a stationary workpiece in which the machining heads with wire guides are operated by two cross-slide systems along two parallel planes on either side of the machining area with the workpiece placed and clamped on pillars that are stationary with respect to the main frame of the machine including a stand which supports the pillars and which is made up of vertical elements connected together to form a space open one face with a collector fitted in a hollow space set in the stand below the machining heads to collect used electrode wire and dielectric machining fluid.

Abstract: A combination magazine and changer for use with a machining head of an electrical discharge machine for rapidly changing a tool. The magazine includes a plurality of separate housings, each of which supports a tool. A retaining means is provided for each housing and creates an attracting force for holding the tools in place. The changer includes a robot arm arranged in proximity to the magazine and which is capable of linear motion relative to the magazine. A mechanical clamping member is mounted to an end of the arm and removes a given tool from the magazine for use in the machining head in a first linear motion and replaces the used tool on the magazine in a second reverse linear motion.

Abstract: A good electric contact device is provided for carrying electrical current to a rotating cylindrical part; it comprisesat least one conducting plate mounted around the rotating cylinder to be supplied with current, rotating together with it, while establishing a gold, almost frictionless,electrical contact,at least one electrical contact which is stationary during the rotation of the cylinder and provided with at least one housing in which means are set which are supplied with electricity from a generator, said contact having at least one side intended to be applied against one of the sides of the conducting guide so as to transmit to it very efficiently, almost without friction and overheating, the electrical current,andmeans to apply the stationary contact against the rotating guide.These contacts are advantageously used for feeding the electroerosive current to a rotating spindle in an E D Milling machining.

Abstract: Electrical discharge machining of a positively charged workpiece with a negatively charged wire electrode (2) by a pulse generator (3), with water as the dielectric fluid, generates a stray current known as "leakage current" that leads to a form of corrosion on the surface of the workpiece known as "anodic dissolution". A secondary circuit fed by a generator (5) and located between the workpiece and auxiliary electrodes (6), creates an equalizing current that cancels the leakage current and diminishes or eliminates anodic dissolution of the workpiece (1). The auxiliary electrodes (6) can be mounted on machining heads (7) with a non-conductive material (8) between the auxiliary electrodes.

Abstract: A work tank for machine tools for receiving the machining fluid comprising a fixed part and a movable part which retracts to move the tank away from the work area when it is necessary to remove a workpiece.

Abstract: Tool-holder (5) makes it possible to rotate a tool at high speed around its axis of symmetry. Its tapered end (26) is engaged in the tapered bore (16) provided in the spindle (6). In a bore of suitable shape a clamp (2) is engaged, adapted to secure the electrode tool end (1) rigidly. An injection chamber (28) communicates with the bore and is connected by radial channels (27) to a fluid inlet. The clamp (2) has radial grooves to bring the cooling fluid (25) from the injection chamber (28) to the surface of the tool (1). A sealed circuit (12,13,15) channels the liquid; it is connected by an input channel of small diameter which passes through the spindle body (10) to a small liquid inlet in the mobile element of the machining head or in the intermediary fixing element mounted on said mobile element. An annular seal (14) of small diameter is mounted in the spindle body around said channel (11').

Abstract: A wire cutting electroerosion machine with upper and lower machining heads on cross slide systems for taper machining. The upper and lower machining heads spray a dielectric liquid at the machining zone. A reservoir and filter elements are used to recycle the liquid and resupply the liquid to the machining zone. An enclosed enclosure means is used to reduce temperature variations during machining by enabling dissipation of the heat given off and to facilitate uniform temperature distribution throughout the equipment by achieving thermal equilibrium.

Abstract: At least one machining parameter of an electrode-wire EDM machine, cutting according to a predetermined trajectory, is varied when the electrode-wire reaches the apex of an angle or approaches an arc. The strategy consists of the following stages:1) calculation of the locations along the trajectory or path at which these variations must be started;2) stopping of relative electrode-wire movement and the work-piece, when the wire reaches one of these points;3) gradual and stepped variations of the parameter up to a final designated value or until a predetermined number of steps have been performed;4) resumption of wire-part relative movement, with the new parameter value over a computer predetermined distance, and5) variation of the parameter in the opposite direction so as to return it to its initial value.The step durations are slaved to changes of a factor giving an image of the conditions existing in the machining slot, around a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An electric discharge machine with a turning or touch-up of the electrode uses an auxiliary tool for cutting or chiseling within an auxiliary tool holder which is mounted in the tank and includes a reference sphere for determining the electrode's shape. The auxiliary tool can include an assembly of several mechanical tools mounted symmetrically.

Abstract: An EDM device for machining by electro-erosion a three-dimensional cavity by compensating for tool-electrode wear, which device includes a mechanism for rotating a tool electrode whose diameter is small in comparison to the dimensions of the cavity being eroded, a numerical control unit of known type, which controls relative three-dimensional movement between the tool electrode and the workpiece, apparatus for controlling volumetric wear rate, and computational apparatus equipped for storing the volumic shape of the cavity to be eroded in the form of virtual fine parallel layers superimposed on one another, for simulating a tool path so that the tool tip sweeps groove by groove across said successive layers, and for transmitting a corresponding signal to the three-dimensional control unit, characterized by a simulator that is programmed to calculate prior to machining the longitudinal wear of the rotating tool or a value intended for additional axial feed of the tool electrode and continuously compensating fo

Abstract: An electrical discharge machining system including a controlled pulse generator providing high energy pulses having a central system for continuously controlling the energy level, the duration and the frequency of the pulses.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrical discharge machining (EDM) is disclosed having a housing and a workpiece support assembly secured to the housing for holding a workpiece in a predetermined location. An EDM electrode is attached to the housing for performing the EDM machining. A tank assembly is also attached to the housing and movable between a machining position and a retracted position. In the machining position, the tank assembly encompasses a workpiece secured to the workpiece support area and filled with a dielectric fluid necessary for the EDM machining process. In its retracted position, the tank assembly is spaced away from the workpiece to facilitate access to the workpiece for removal of the finished workpiece and reattachment of a new workpiece in preparation for the next EDM machining operation.

Abstract: A wire electrode for electro-erosion cutting consisting of a core of electrically conductive material. The core is covered with a film of multiple fine layers. The layers provide the characteristics of high electrical conductivity and low melting and vaporization temperatures in an alternating fashion. The alternating layers of the wire electrode may be diffused into one another in order to provide alloys of desired structure and composition. A method for producing the multi-layer electrode wire is also disclosed.

Abstract: The injection device for machining liquid comprises a nozzle (9) sliding in a mobile element (7) which itself slides inside a housing (1) fixed to a machining head, these three elements forming an injection chamber (2) with the base of this head. The nozzle (9) and the mobile element (7) are profiled in such a way as to delimit a pressure chamber (30) along one of the sides (31) of a shoulder (11) built on the periphery of the nozzle (9), as well as a second chamber (20) along the opposite side of this shoulder (11). The nozzle (9) has openings (28) linking this pressure chamber (30) to the injection chamber (2). The mobile element (7) has openings (10) linking the chamber (20) with the atmospheric pressure. The shoulder (11) is sized so that the pressure created in the chamber (30) at least partly counterbalances the pressure created in the injection chamber (2) and acts on the nozzle (9) in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Device and process to control at least one machining parameter of an electrode-wire EDM machine according to a protection strategy, in particular to avoid short-circuits, or to improve machining conditions so as to obviate the risk of electrode-wire breakage.

Abstract: A machining head carries at its end a sensor comprising a pressure-sensitive element (4) mounted on the parts (1, 2) holding the injector jet for the machining fluid, as well as the buffering pieces (5, 6, 12) forming a shield. The element (4) is an insulating and watertight tube, arranged to form a ring in the space left between the coaxial, truncated conical surfaces of the parts (1) and (2). It contains conducting parts which come into contact with one another when it is deformed by the action of a pressure whose value exceeds a given threshold. This results in the closing of an electrical circuit which transmits an appropriate signal to the controls of the EDM machine in order to interrupt the relative movement of the head. The device enables any shock or abnormal stress acting on the end of the machining head to be detected. By means of an O-ring seal (7) acting as a hinge, the part (1) and the piece (12) are returned to their original positions when the stress disappears.

Abstract: At least one machining parameter of an electrode-wire EDM machine, cutting according to a predetermined trajectory, is varied when the electrode-wire reaches the apex of an angle or approaches an arc. The process consists of the following stages:1) calculation of the locations along the trajectory or path at which these variations must be started;2) stopping of relative electrode-wire movement and the work-piece, when the wire reaches one of these points;3) gradual and stepped variations of the parameter up to a final designated value or until a predetermined number of steps have been performed, or during a given period of time;4) resumption of wire-part relative movement, with the new parameter value over a computed predetermined distance, and5) variation of the parameter in the opposite direction so as to return it to its initial value.The durations of the steps are predetermined or correspond to cutting of predetermined lengths along the path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously supplying and recycling machining liquid in an EDM device employ a filter between a liquid reservoir and a machining location at which the liquid is used. In one embodiment of the invention a buffer reservoir is provided between the filter and the machining location, while in another embodiment a second filter is connected in parallel with the first-mentioned filter. In either case, an assured alternative supply of filtered liquid is provided while the filter is repeatedly stopped and started in response to one or more operating parameters representing a degree of filter clogging. The stopping of the partially-clogged filter unexpectedly permits self-regeneration of the filter without the need for dismounting or backflushing for cleaning; even though cleaning is not performed, the repeated stopping by itself extends the useful life of the filter.