Abstract: A wire guiding device for enabling the guiding of a wire electrode at an angle with respect to the normal straight line of wire travel. The wire is placed at an angle by the upper and/or lower wire guide assemblies being displaced from one another. The wire guiding device includes a guide member having a bore that increases in diameter toward a first opening and wherethrough the wire electrode is received. The guide member is pivotally supported and is allowed to pivotally move about a point along the longitudinal axis of the bore about two axes of rotation. Pivotal movement of the guide member is caused by the wire electrode traveling at an angle between the guide assemblies with respect to the normal straight line of wire travel. Fluid under pressure is caused to be directed through the guide member and out toward a workpiece substantially surrounding the wire electrode for flushing the workpiece cutting area.

Abstract: A multidirectional electrical discharge machine wire guide that is long-lasting and easily manufactured and, wherein the guide member thereof is not subject to dislodging. The guide member is made of a wear-resistant material, such as diamond or the like, and includes a wire hole for receiving a wire electrode therethrough and guiding the wire. A non-conductive member is provided and prevents electrical current flow between the wire electrode and the guide assembly at an area substantially near the guide member. The non-conductive member can surround and support the guide member on a wire guide body or, in the alternative, may be separate from the support member.

Abstract: A wire guiding device for electrical discharge machines (EDM) for easing the threading of wire through the wire guiding assembly. The wire guiding device includes a body wherethrough a longitudinal wire hole is defined having first and second openings. A cavity is located in the body and communicates with the wire hole along a longitudinal communication portion. The cavity is channel-shaped including a planar valley portion and two walls. The planar valley portion intersects the wire hole and forms the longitudinal communication portion and also forms an arcuate groove along the valley portion and in the body. A wear-resistant member is fixed in a bore near one opening of the wire hole and a non-conductive cap is fixed thereover and shields the wear-resistant member and the wire guiding device from electroerosion. A liquid retention chamber is attached to the wire guiding assembly and at least partially surrounds the wire guiding device and has a hole substantially coaxially arranged with the wire hole.

Abstract: A current pickup assembly for placing electrical current on a moving wire electrode in an electrical discharge machine apparatus and having a normal straight line of travel. The current pickup assembly includes a current pickup having a bore therethrough for receiving the wire electrode. The bore longitudinal axis is at an angle with respect to the normal straight line of wire travel and the moving wire electrode contacts the bore contact wall therein. A pivot means is provided for selectively pivoting the carbide pickup longitudinal axis at an angle with respect to the straight line of wire travel. A rotation means rotates the current pickup about the bore longitudinal axis. In the alternative, the current pickup is supported on a gimball means for selectively pivoting the pickup about two mutually perpendicular and intersecting axes of rotation intersecting at a point.

Abstract: A guide assembly for guiding an electrical discharge machine apparatus moving wire electrode through a workpiece. The guide assembly includes first, second, and third guide members, each having a bore for receiving the moving wire electrode and a current pickup is located between the second and third guide members. The first guide member is closest to the workpiece. The first and second guide members are mounted on a guide body at respective first and second openings communicating with one another through a wire passageway through the guide body. The guide body includes a threaded portion and a nut member is used for engaging the threaded portion and attaching the guide body to the support assembly. The nut member includes a housing defining a fluid passageway and an outlet bore for creating a threading fluid stream.

Abstract: A nib for a drawing die, and a method of its manufacture, is provided wherein subsequent nibs recut from the original nib are geometrically similar to the original nib, thereby minimizing the increase in the lengths of the reduction cavity and bearing cavity.

Abstract: A method of mounting a hard, wear-resistant insert for use as a core tube, wire drawing die, and the like in which a cylindrical metal casing is provided with opposite front and back sides, the casing having a cylindrical cavity formed in the front side with a flat bottom spaced from the back side. A cylindrical plug is provided having top and bottom ends, the plug being proportioned to have a close fit in the casing cavity. The casing-plug assembly has a reference position with the casing cavity bottom facing upwardly and the plug bottom end facing downwardly. Prior to insertion of the plug in the cavity, either the plug or the casing is inverted from its reference position. A hard insert element is centered with respect to either the inverted end of the plug bottom or the casing cavity bottom and is adhered thereto. Either the plug or the casing is again inverted to the reference position, and the plug is inserted in the casing cavity with the bottom end and insert element facing the cavity bottom.

Abstract: A digital method of testing a wire drawing distance to determine the percent wire elongation provided thereby in which a predetermined test length of wire is pulled through the die and then around a rotatable capstan thereby rotating the same. A train of electrical pulses is generated in response to rotational movement of the capstan, there being 10.sup.n pulses generated in response to the rotational movement of the capstan caused by pulling a length of drawn wire therearound equal in length to the test length prior to drawing through the die where "n" is a positive integer greater than zero and less than five. The pulses generated during the pulling of the test length of the wire through the die are counted, and a visual indication of the pulse count with the most significant digit eliminated is provided.

Abstract: A wire drawing die and method for making the same in which a blank having a cylindrical core of a hard, wear-resistant material located randomly in the blank is initially attached to a circular metal plate having a concentric central opening, thus forming an assembly with the core being concentric to both the plate and the opening. A metal casing is provided having a cylindrical cavity proportioned to accommodate the plate with a close fit. A first brazing disc is placed on the cavity bottom. The assembly is inserted in the case cavity over the first brazing disc with the blank facing either toward the top or bottom of the cavity. Powder metal may be placed between the blank and the cavity. A second brazing disc is then placed over the assembly and the powder metal. A metal plug is provided with its outside diameter proportioned for a close fit with the case cavity and may have an interior cavity proportioned to accommodate the blank.

Abstract: A metal casing is provided having flat, parallel front and back sides. A first cylindrical cavity having a bottom wall is formed in the front casing side. A cylindrical metal plug having top and bottom ends is secured by heat shrinking in the first casing cavity, the bottom end having a second, concentric cylindrical cavity formed therein and engaging the bottom wall of the cavity. A cylindrical metal blank having opposite ends and a concentric core formed of a synthetic hard, wear-resistant material, such as polycrystalline aggregate of synthetic or natural diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, is secured in the second cavity by heat shrinking with one end engaging the bottom thereof and the other end engaging the first casing cavity bottom wall.

Abstract: A wire drawing die includes a metal casing having flat, parallel front and back sides. A first cylindrical cavity having a bottom wall is formed in the front casing side. A cylindrical metal plug having top and bottom ends is secured in the first casing cavity, the bottom end having a second, concentric cylindrical cavity formed therein. A cylindrical metal blank having opposite ends and a concentric core formed of a synthetic hard, wear-resistant material, such as polycrystalline aggregate of synthetic diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, is closely fitted in the second cavity with one end engaging the bottom thereof and the other end engaging the first casing cavity bottom wall. The top end of the plug and the back side of the casing have concentric countersunk openings therein respectively extending therethrough to the core, and the core has a concentric die opening therethrough communicating between the countersunk openings.

Abstract: A wire drawing die employing a synthetic hard, wear-resistant material, such as a polycrystalline aggregate of synthetic diamond or a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride includes a metal casing having flat, parallel front and back sides. A cylindrical cavity is formed in the front casing side having a flat bottom, the side wall of the cavity being undercut adjacent the bottom. A first layer of metal powder is deposited in the casing cavity covering the bottom and the undercut. An annular metal blank having flat opposite sides and a core formed of the hard, wear-resistant material is placed on the first metal powder layer and adhered thereto, the core being concentric with the cavity. A second layer of metal powder is deposited in the cavity covering the first layer and the blank, the metal powder of both layers having a melting point lower than the thermal degradation temperature of the core.