Abstract: The apparatus includes at least one membrane filter (32) for filtering a machining liquid which has been contaminated by its use in electroerosive or electrochemical machining of workpieces. The apparatus also includes a device for cyclical cleaning of the soiled membrane filter, which device irradiates the membrane filter (32) with ultrasonic waves (33) and loosens the contaminant particles in the filter pores as well as means (20, 23, 24, 25, 35, 36, 41) for the backwashing of the membrane filter and for removal of the contaminant particles. The contaminant particles are fed by means of throughflushing intervals from the concentrate chamber (30) into the sedementation vessel (12). As a result of this combination of ultrasound and backwashing, extremely small durations of the cleaning cycles and uniform cleaning of the complete filter area are insured without concern for the nonuniform contaminants topography of the filter surface resulting from the contaminants.

Abstract: The tool changing mechanism is provided with means for the direct transfer of tools through the working sleeve or spindle. The transfer means preferably have rapid clamping means, which are controlled by the working movement of the spindle or sleeve, so that there is no need for a separate transfer station for the tools from the magazine to the spindle or sleeve, so that much space is saved. The magazine is preferably essentially arranged around the assembly for receiving and guiding the working spindle or sleeve. Preferably, the magazine is substantially located over the projected base surface of the machine working table.

Abstract: A head assembly for an electro-erosion machine tool comprises, in a housing, a guide for guiding the moving filamentary or strip-form tool electrode and first contact means for supplying erosion energy to the electrode. The scavenging medium is fed into the housing so as to cool the contact means and guide, and leaves it by way of a nozzle through which also the electrode leaves the housing on its way to another head assembly arranged on the opposite side of the location where machining is performed, the scaverging medium being thereby fed to the machining location as an envelope coaxial to the electrode. Second contact means for contacting the workpiece to be machined are fixed to the nozzle and the connections to each contact means are arranged for low inductive energy loss.

Abstract: Electroerosion machining (EDM or ECM) is carried out with a minimum of manual intervention. Under control of recorded data an electronic control system utilizing control logic directs the set-up operations as well as the actual machining process. The operations automatically (i.e., without the necessity of manual intervention) include loading and removal of workpieces and electrode material, trueing up of the workpiece (which may be by providing a transformation of the data rather than by adjusting the position of the workpiece), making starting bores, threading the electrode through a starting bore, applying a low melting alloy or other conducting adhesive to cement a core in the process of being cut out by machining, cutting the electrode after completing a starting bore and joining electrode ends after rethreading in a new starting bore. In threading the electrode it may be pushed simply or with the support of a surrounding jet of pressure medium, or it may be pulled by a grapple member.