Abstract: A wire tensioning system for a wire-shaped working electrode of a spark erosion machine and a procedure for the tensioning of the working electrode. The working electrode at least nearly circumferentially encompasses a braking roller in a wire entry zone and/or a tensioning roller in a wire withdrawal zone. A nozzle is assigned to the braking and/or the tensioning roller such that the nozzle exerts a tensile force on the working electrode to tension the wire.

Abstract: A method and a device are for controlling multiple machining processes in a die-sink erosion machine with several identical or different electrodes (R1, R2, R3, R4), whereby the machining sequence of the machining processes and the electrode used for each machining process are determined by providing the following criteria: a) predefining priorities of workpieces to be machined, of a group of machining procedures, of individual machining jobs (ARB), of work cycles (AZ) and/or work steps (AS) of a machining job; and/or (b) predefining the life span or wear limit of the electrodes used for the individual machining jobs, work cycles or work steps. The overall machining on the die-sink erosion machine is performed with consideration of the determined machining sequence.

Abstract: A device for preparation of a machining electrode, especially a machining electrode or bar sinking electrode in an EDM machine for feed into an electrode guide system. The device employs a suction and advance device for suction and advance of the machining electrode and at least one pressure equalization device. Additionally, an electrode change device is disclosed having at least two devices for preparing the machining electrode and a method for preparation of a machining electrode.

Abstract: An EDM machine for machining a workpiece is disclosed. The EDM machine includes a machine frame having a central stationary machine body and a machining electrode to machine the workpiece. Machining occurs by producing a relative movement in at least one of an X axial direction and a Y axial direction between the machining electrode and the workpiece. The machine also includes a first axial slide for moving at least one of the workpiece and the machining electrode in the X axial direction, and a second axial slide for moving at least one of the machining electrode and the workpiece in the Y axial direction. The first axial slide is mounted in a substantially vertical plane on the machine body for lateral movement in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a movement transmission unit and a movement transmission apparatus employing the same. The movement transmission transmits at least two movement components, each possessing one degree of freedom of movement, from an input-side (6) to an output-side (82, 84), which movement then has at least two coupled degrees of freedom of movement, or vice versa. The invention also concerns one transmission unit (2) per input-side (6) degree of freedom of movement, i.e multiple transmission units (2), which are functionally bound together in parallel by means of their respective output sections (8). Each transmission unit (2) possesses an immobile, solidly fixed first section (4). Its input facility is a second section (6), which is bend linked to the fixed first section (4) by means of a unified linkage structure encompassing parts (22, 26, 34; 28, 36) and forming what becomes known as a first “parallelogram linkage”.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wire cutting electric discharge machining to achieve precise surfaces with Ra<0.1 microns. An intermittent operation is used with erosion pulses for primarily machining and erosion pulses for measuring any excursion of the wire electrode from the rest position. An evaluation unit is used to determine any excursions of the wire electrode from the rest position that might have been present during the preceding machining time, and a controller controls the machining process so that the wire electrode is practically straight during electroerosion.

Abstract: A method and a device for the controlled withdrawal movement of a machining electrode in an erosion device wherein, in the case of a process malfunction, the machining electrode is moved backward along the previously traveled machining path (B) (first way of withdrawal) and along a withdrawal vector (RV) defined in relation to the machining path (B) (second way of withdrawal). In order to quickly eliminate the process malfunction and at the same time reduce the risk that the machining electrode will hit the work piece surfaces during the withdrawal movement, the machining electrode is moved backward simultaneously along both ways of withdrawal, and the direction of the withdrawal vector (RV) at each point is adapted to the previously traveled machining path (B).

Abstract: EDM according to the present invention involves an intermttent type of operation between erosion pulses and measurement pulses in order to circumvent an interfering self-control effect of an electrode during fine machining. To achieve shorter processing times, higher precision and better reproducibility, the method and apparatus determine with an electrical measurement the amount that an electrode is in contact with a workpiece during a measurement time that erosion has been interrupted. A pulse duty factor is then obtained from the contact amount to control further processing via, for example, the duration of the erosion pulses.

Abstract: An electrical discharge machine with at least one wire electrode (30) in which the wire electrode (30) runs between two guide heads (10,10'). At least one, in particular, both, guide heads (10,10') are formed to be at least partially spherical. At least one of the guide heads (10,10') is seated in a manner suited for spherical rotations. Alternatively or additionally, a drive means is provided for the spherical rotation of at least one guide head (10,10'). The spatial position of the wire electrode (30), in particular, its conical angle, can be adjusted completely or essentially by subjecting the two opposing spherical guide heads (10,10') to spherical rotations and/or a modification of spacing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for tuning a controller parameter of a PIV controller with a position, velocity and/or integral controller element for a control path of a drive in an electroerosion apparatus, with the help of a fuzzy controller, wherein for the purpose of tuning, a preset control input distribution, such as a time-dependent distribution of the position of the drive, is provided to the PIV controller as input variable and wherein an input variable of the fuzzy controller is derived from the control variable of the controller. Additional input variables of the fuzzy controller are derived from a controller output of the PIV controller.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a spark erosion process between a workpiece and an electrode for instance a microdrilling electrode, so that the erosion process becomes less susceptible to a malfunction, in that at least one process parameter is measured along a first test interval of the section to be eroded, at least one control value is deduced form the measured values, and this control value is used in a subsequent erosion interval of the section to be eroded. The control value is preferably used for controlling a suitable feed rate of the electrode. The susceptibility to malfunctions is further lessened, in that a differentiation is made between mechanical and other short circuits and in that the electrode movement is controlled differently for mechanical short circuits than for other short circuits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus control an EDM machine with at least one input device and one computer. During and/or after input into a controller, the required control data are subdivided into object-oriented data that directly concern individual operations, and into strategic data that concern the follow-up of the operation carried out by the EDM machine. The object-oriented data and the strategic data are then processed differently.

Abstract: A method for moving a guide head of a wire erosion machine and possibly a workpiece along a guide path (TD), determining a drag error (S; S.sub.B ; S.sub.G) of a wire electrode from making several drag error acquisitions or from a combination of several drag errors (S; S.sub.B ; S.sub.G). Each drag error (S; S.sub.B ; S.sub.G) is determined during one drag error acquisition. Also, a wire erosion machine is disclosed with an actuating device for effecting movements of at least a guide head and/or a workpiece, along a guide path (TD) including with several devices for determining a drag error (S; S.sub.B ; S.sub.G) and a selection device for selecting the drag error (S; S.sub.B ; S.sub.G) from one device or from a combination of drag errors (S; S.sub.B ; S.sub.G) determined from several devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an electroerosion machine wherein a control device is provided with technological parameter sets. These link one of a group of input parameters with suitable output parameters. The control device compares actual, current input parameters with groups of input parameters of these technological parameter sets. The control device then provides one or more technological parameter sets with groups of input parameters which are identical to or similar to the actual, current input parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wire electroerosive cutting of a workpiece, the wire guided in a toroidal guide and a main guide associated with the toroidal guide, the position(s) of the toroidal guide and/or of the main guide with respect to the desired position of the erosion wire is(are) calculated in real time, considering the geometry of the contour to be cut and of the instantaneous erosion parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electroerosive machining (i.e. electric discharge machining) of workpieces is accomplished by supplying pulses of varying polarity to the gap between an electrode and a workpiece. Instead of a pause between pulses of the same polarity, the pulse generator inserts a pulse of reverse polarity whose duration is selected so that removal is at a maximum rate and wear of the electrode is still permissible. The reverse polarity pulses themselves cause machining of the workpiece. A fuzzy logic controller is used to optimize the pulse duration of successive pulses.