Abstract: A transmission is provided for a machine that manufactures a workpiece, later to serve as an electrode, by means of a form grinding tool. The tool has a similar spatial shape to that of the workpiece. The drive generates between the tool and the workpiece an orbital motion with changeable eccentricity and which orbital motion is necessary for a grinding or abrading process. A device, which can be structured as a transmission, an electrical control circuit, or as displaceable idling rollers, alters the eccentricity and is in constant operative connection with the driving side and power take-off side of the transmission. In this way there is obtained a constant setting or a cyclical adjustment of the eccentricity throughout the orbital movement. Furthermore, the orbital movement can describe non-circular patterns so that Lissajou patterns can be generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a three-dimensional workpiece by inducing the following relative motions between an abrading die member and the workpiece: a feed motion, periodical retract and advance motions in a z-direction, and a planetary or orbital motion in the x and y directions. The mechanism which generates the planetary or orbital motion is provided with means for infinitely adjusting the eccentricity of this motion and is provided with means for selectively and releasably fixing the chosen amount of eccentricity. An assembly is provided to adapt the following process values to conditions within a gap between the die and the workpiece such that the abrading process is optimized: (i) feed pressure between the die and the workpiece during an abrading period of a work cycle; (ii) speed of the feed motion; and (iii) speeds of periodical retract and advance motions.