Abstract: A wire direction changer assembly is disclosed for installation in the wire path system of a wire electrode spark erosion machine with a wire entrance port, a wire discharge port, an essentially tube or tunnel wire guide channel connecting to both ports along a curved path; and a suction nozzle disposed in the region of the wire discharge port for providing a fluid flow through the wire guide channel. These features provide an exceptionally trouble-free fluid-supported wire direction changer of the electrode wire, while at the same time ensuring trouble-free automatic wire threading.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and a device for die sinking and wire-cutting workpieces by means of electrical discharge machining. A machine frame (10) as well as a worktank (9) and a lower guide head (5) form a stationary unit referred to the main axis directions X, Y. The workpiece (2) is immersed in the worktank (9) and moved in the horizontal plane by means of the X/Y main axis drive (14). An upper guide head (4) also forms part of the stationary unit or can be moved by means of a Z drive (16) and/or a U/V drive (15). The lower guide head may also be designed such that it can be vertically moved by means of a lower Z drive (17). This concept is particularly suitable for producing microscopic components by means of electrical discharge machining and as a multielectrode machine that processes workpieces simultaneously or sequentially.

Abstract: A method of and a spark erosion apparatus for fine machining by spark erosion of a workpiece (2) with a wire electrode (1) eliminates very efficiently process interruptions caused by short circuits, such that at least one gap parameter is continuously monitored for the purpose of detecting a short circuit; when a short circuit is detected, the forward motion of the electrode (1) is arrested at the point (K) where the short circuit occurred; if the short circuit persists, the electrode (1) is moved away from the workpiece (2) to an intervention point (M)--in a direction perpendicular to the path (6) used for trim cutting; at the intervention point (M), one or several measures to eliminate the short circuit are executed once or several times; and after it has been detected that the short circuit is eliminated, the electrode (1) is moved back to the point (K) where the short circuit occurred, whereafter normal machining continues.

Abstract: An electroerosion apparatus is disclosed having an upper and a lower tiltable electrode guide assembly, each are independently tiltable about a first and a second tilt axis. Both tilt axes are each associated with tilt drives. Each tilt drive includes a servo motor mounted outside the machining zone and connected to the tiltable electrode guide assemblies.

Abstract: The excursion (a) of a wire electrode (10) is held constant at a pre-set value during the machining operation. The forward feed rate of an X/Y drive (24), the pulse frequency of the machining pulse or a combination of both these erosion parameters are preferably selected as a regulated quantity for effecting the wire excursion (a).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving guide heads, possibly of a workpiece, of a wire erosion machine along in each case a wire guide path (TD) in which connection, by a cutting wire (1) traveling between the guide heads, a contour is cut into the workpiece (5) and the actual drag error (S) produced by the bulging of the cutting wire (1) is compensated for in the manner that the existing wire guide path (TD) is corrected with reference to a contour to be cut which is represented by at least one contour curve (UK), characterized by the fact that, for the correction of the existing wire guide path (TD), a drag error correction vector (S.sub.B) is calculated, its amount (.vertline.S.sub.B (t).vertline.) being calculated from the instantaneous erosion parameters forming the basis of the erosion and its direction, in particular the angle (.alpha.(x)) between the calculated drag error correction vector (S.sub.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for monitoring and programming functioning of a machine for machining workpieces, in particular, a spark erosion machine, in which separate functions are displayed on a window of the apparatus screen, one or more of the displayed functions is/are selected and then set up valuewise in a further window of the apparatus screen.

Abstract: An electro-erosion apparatus for the machining of workpieces with a work ruble for the resting thereon of a workpiece, a first machining head, at last two degree of from of the movement of the apparatus in and/or parallel to the principal working place of the workpiece (X/Y-plane) as well as at least one additional degree of from of the movement perpendicular to the principle working place (Z-axis), which has at least one additional machining head which is fastened on the first machining head (FIG. 4 ).

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of electro-erosive cutting with a cathode in the form of a wire. The wire advances through at least one or two guides, especially open V-grooved guides that do not surround the wire. One wire guide is upstream and the other downstream, in the direction the wire advances along, of the workpiece being processed. The wire guide or guides can rotate around the wire.

Abstract: Apparatus for electro-erosive cutting. A cathode in the form of a wire advances through at least one wire guide, with one guide being upstream and the other, if any, downstream of the workpiece in terms of the direction advanced by the wire. The at least one wire guide is an open, specifically a notched, wire guide, one that does not surround the wire, that is, and has associated with it a closed wire guide, specifically a wire guide in the from of a torus that surrounds the wire.

Abstract: A method of electroerosive wire cutting at least one shaped piece in a workpiece, in which it is cut by a solid cut along a first path, at least one parting cut along a second path, and at least one finish cut along the first and second paths, the sequence of cuts being variable according to the operating conditions. The operating conditions can include presence of a user so that the parting cut is carried out upon the presence of the operator.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and/or controlling the tension in a ribbon or wire-type electrode of an electric discharge machine in which the ribbon or wire-type electrode is passed around a rotatable roller which is in operative engagement with a sensor. The roller is adapted to be driven in rotation by a motor or to be retarded by a brake. A support member for the roller and the motor or for the roller and the brake accommodates the weight of the roller and the motor or of the roller and the brake so that no load caused by the motor or the brake plus the roller acts in the direction of the tensile stress of the electrode. Any movement of the support means can be detected by a sensor, and the magnitude of the tension can be derived by a control unit from the output signal of the sensor. In operation, the control unit determines the tension on the wire and causes the unit to either increase or decrease the resistance caused by the roller.

Abstract: The pulse generator for electric discharge machining contains neither load resistors nor magnetic components. The pulse current is continuously detected by a current sensor 4 and this measured value fed to a control circuit 5. Via switch elements 10, 11 and the spark-circuit inductance 3, the pulse current is developed in accordance with a desired value called for by the system connection 6. At the pulse end, the energy present in the spark-circuit inductance 3 is discharged into capacitors 37, 38 and from there recuperated in the source of dc voltage 1 or, upon the next current pulse, in the spark circuit 2, 3. This is possible with only two switch elements 10, 11. One terminal of the source of the dc voltage 1 is common with an electrode of the spark path. By means of further switch elements 12, 13, it is also possible to control the no-load voltage and/or the current impulse slope. This generator is particularly small, light and inexpensive and is of very high efficiency.

Abstract: A method of machining workpieces, particularly for wire electroerosion machining in which a machining gap is formed between the machined piece and the workpiece, a machined piece is cut out of the workpiece, and the machined piece is secured against dropping out, whereby the machined piece is secured by at least one separate securing means arranged in the machining gap. The securing means is preferably cut out of the workpiece by electro-erosion (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A method for the initial cutting of a workpiece by electrical discharge cutting by a wire electrode, in which the values for the specific cutting parameters are reduced along an introduction path in the workpiece at least in part as compared with the values of the cutting parameters for the actual cutting contour, and at least some of the reduced values of the cutting parameters are continuously changed until the values intended for the actual cutting contour are reached.

Abstract: A workpiece (1) is clamped onto a compound rest table (5) and machined by a tool electrode (2) running tensioned between two electrode guides (10, 11). A container (18) holds the working liquid into which a working zone (9) of the workpiece (1) is immersed. The lower electrode guide (1) is supported on the stand (4) of the machine by means of a guidearm (13). The guide-arm (13) crosses the back wall (19) of a container (18) at a right angle in an opening (21a) covered by a sliding closing piece (22) that is parallel to the back wall (19) of the container (18). The guide-arm (13) crosses the closing piece (22) of the container (18) at a right angle in another opening (24) where it is slidable. The closing piece (22) is arranged at the outside of the container (18) on a side (26) of the back wall ( 19) facing the stand (4).

Abstract: In order to avoid unnecessarily long withdrawal movements and to eliminate as rapidly as possible short-circuits upon contact of a countersinking electrode with the workpiece being worked in the electroerosion machine, whilst also adapting as flexibly as possible the path of the withdrawal movement to the geometry of the workpiece to be eroded and the path eroded therein, the withdrawal movement of the countersinking electrode during a short-circuit is controlled so that in the presence of a short-circuit the countersinking electrode is initially moved back by a predetermined distance along the previously covered or eroded path from a short-circuit point to an intermediate point and then the electrode is moved away from the intermediate point over the given withdrawal path if there is still a short-circuit on reaching the intermediate point.