Wire Cutting Patents (Class 219/69.12)
  • Publication number: 20080223827
    Abstract: A wire retrieving device for a cutting machine includes a block connected with an air source and a blowing path is defined through the block. A suction path is defined in a side of the block and has an oblique port formed in a surface of the block through which the discarded wire is sucked into the suction path which further has an engaging port communicating with the blowing path. A pushing member removably pushes the metal wire toward the block by an electromagnetic valve when the metal wire needs to be cut by an electrode unit. A pair of driving rollers located a down stream of the electrode unit and pulls the metal wire toward the upper mold. The discarded wire is blowing out from the blowing path and is collected in a collection tank via a tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventor: J. C. Chang
  • Publication number: 20080217300
    Abstract: When a wire electrode is arranged along a traveling path by manual operation, a motor M1 for feeding the wire electrode to a workpiece is driven in response to a predetermined torque command from a control section with a switch SW1 on a side a. The wire electrode is connected, and a motor M2 for delivering the electrode from the wire is driven at a predetermined speed, whereby the electrode is run. Then, the switch SW1 is shifted to a side b and a switch SW2 to the side a, and the motor M1 is subjected to torque control such that a tension on the wire electrode detected by a tension detector is equal to a command tension. When a variation of the tension on the wire electrode is converged, the switches SW1 and SW2 are shifted to the side b, speed control of the motor M1 is performed so that detected tension is equal to the command tension, and electric discharge machining is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Yuki KITA, Hiroyuki ABE, Yoshinori MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20080201010
    Abstract: A machining program generating device and a wire-cut electric discharge machine that can shorten a machining time to machine multiple punch shapes. A distance L from one punch shape machining end position Pe to a next punch shape machining start position Ps is obtained. When the distance L is shorter than a predetermined value, the electric discharge machining is performed between the machining end position Pe and the machining start position Ps. When the distance L is equal to or longer than that a predetermined value, the wire is cut at the machining end position Pe and connected at the machining start position Ps to restart the electric discharge machining. By continuing the electric discharge machining when the distance L is shorter than the predetermined value, it is not necessary to carry out the processes of cutting and connecting the wire, and therefore the machining time is shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Shigetoshi TAKAGI, Toshiyuki OGATA
  • Publication number: 20080190897
    Abstract: The methods and devices enable a reliable and rapid automatic threading process on spark-erosive wire-cutting machines with closed round guides without complicated entry of parameters. A heat-output control device with an optimized output characteristic curve is supplied from a DC voltage source of the erosion generator. Through an at least partial feedback loop of heating current and source voltage, the characteristic curve is modified in such a way that different wire types or different annealing lengths for the wire provide optimal results for stretching, straightening and separating the wire electrode without controlled intervention. With adaptive control it is possible to thread future wire types automatically without reprogramming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: AGIE SA
    Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Dante Scricciolo
  • Publication number: 20080179296
    Abstract: The electrode wire according to the invention comprises a brass core (1) covered with a ? phase brass coating (2) having a structure fragmented into blocks (2a) between which the core (1) is exposed. The blocks (2a) have a thickness (E2) with a narrow distribution and produce a coverage of the core (1) according to a coverage rate greater than 50%. This produces a regular fragmentation of the coating, which improves the finish state of the machined parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: THERMOCOMPACT
    Inventors: Michel LY, Gerald SANCHEZ
  • Publication number: 20080179295
    Abstract: A wire collecting mechanism for cutting and collecting a metal wire used in a wire-cut electrical discharge machine includes a first guide roller and a second guide roller movable relative to the first guide roller for clamping the metal wire that passes between the first guide roller and the second guide roller. A wire cutter is moveable relative to the metal wire for cutting the metal wire that is clamped. A wire collecting box is provided with a mouth facing the metal wire and a suction force towards an inside of the wire collecting box. A press roller is movable relative to the metal wire for pressing and forcing a cutting piece of the metal wire into the mouth of the wire collecting box, such that the cutting piece of the metal wire can be sucked into the wire collecting box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Max See Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Hung LAI
  • Publication number: 20080142487
    Abstract: An automatic wire threader (1) for threading a wire electrode (2) through upper and lower wire guides is provided with means for annealing and fusing the wire electrode. Upper and lower energized electrodes (20, 22) are provided above the upper wire guide (3) for supplying heating current to the wire electrode. A vertically moveable guide pipe (24) through which the wire electrode can pass is provided between the upper and lower energized electrodes. A heat retention unit (28) having a through hole (50) through which the guide pipe can pass is provided between the upper and lower energized electrodes. A coolant supply unit (26) supplies coolant for cooling the wire electrode in the guide pipe. A blocking fluid supply unit (34) supplies blocking fluid for preventing coolant flowing into the through hole of the heat retention unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Masashi Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080135141
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrical discharge electrode is disclosed as comprising an electrode outline body forming step of conducting a given mechanical machining on an electrode material to form an electrode outline body, an electrode outline body annealing step of annealing the electrode outline body at least one time for removing residual stress therefrom, and an electrode segment forming step of removing a surrounding wall portion from an electrical discharge portion of the electrode outline body by wire electrical discharging to form an electrode segment portion with a given wall thickness and shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayoshi FUJITA
  • Patent number: 7371989
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machine capable of taper machining with an improved accuracy. A reference wire correction amount d set in advance is determined to be a proper value for a wire-diameter correction amount for a speed control plane, and adjustment amounts for adjusting the reference wire correction amount for the upper and lower surfaces of a workpiece are determined to be proportional to (1-Lu/Lm) and (1-Ll/Lm), respectively, where Lu, Lm and Ll are machining distances at the upper surface, speed control plane and lower surface, respectively. As a proportionality coefficient, a reference adjustment amount e is set in advance. Using adjustment amounts e(1-Lu/Lm) and e(1-Ll/Lm), wire-diameter correction amounts for the workpiece upper and lower surfaces are determined to be d+e(1-Lu/Lm) and d+e(1-Ll/Lm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Keiichiro Miyajima, Yasuo Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20080105656
    Abstract: A system for machining a component with complex contour. The machining system includes a coolant flow nozzle with an interior passage with a first portion having a first cross-sectional shape, and a second portion having a second cross-sectional shape, with the second cross-sectional shape selected so that fluid discharged from the nozzle has a selected cross-sectional shape. A method of fabricating a coolant flow nozzle with an interior passage that has a varying cross sectional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas R. Smith, Daniel E. Jones
  • Publication number: 20080053963
    Abstract: A wire electrode supply device for a wire-cut electric discharge machine that prevents a wire electrode from departing from a wire traveling path using a simple configuration. A wire bobbin is driven in a reverse direction of a wire feed direction by a torque motor to apply tension to the wire electrode. A velocity detector that detects a rotation velocity of the wire bobbin is provided. The wire electrode is laid along the wire traveling path that includes a guide roller, a brake roller, upper and lower guides, and a wire take-up roller, during which, when the wire electrode is fed out from the wire bobbin, if a velocity detected by the velocity detector meets or exceeds a predetermined velocity, the output torque of the torque motor 3 is increased so that inertial force of the wire bobbin causes the wire electrode to slacken, thus preventing the wire electrode from departing from the wire traveling path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Yuki Kita, Yushi Takayama, Yoshinori Makino
  • Publication number: 20080053962
    Abstract: Automated gripping devices and methods for using the gripping devices for handling a work piece in a machining process, for example, an electrical discharge machining (EDM) process, are provided. The gripping devices include at least one movable plate have a jaw that cooperates with a stationary jaw to hold a work piece. The movable plate is guided and supported by rods that pass through bearings in the movable plate and provide stiffness and positioning accuracy to the movable plate. The movable plate may be translated by a lead screw driven by a drive train, for example, a motor-driven belt drive train. The gripping devices may be used to manipulate and position a work piece in any machining process, but are uniquely capable of enhancing the handling of work pieces in the EDM machining process. Methods for handling work pieces are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: APPLIED ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Clayton C. COOPER, Thomas MARCELLA
  • Publication number: 20080047936
    Abstract: A method of measuring a taper angle in a wire electric discharge machining apparatus comprises, the steps of: providing a measuring tool (2) having lower and upper edges (27, 23) being spaced by a given height (H); moving a vertical wire electrode (EV) from a reference position (R) in one direction by a first movement (X1) to the lower edge (27); moving the vertical wire electrode from the reference position in the one direction by a second movement (X2) to the upper edge (23); moving an inclined wire electrode (EI) from the reference position in the one direction by a third movement (X3) to the lower edge; moving the inclined wire electrode from the reference position in the one direction by a fourth movement (X4) to the upper edge; and calculating a taper angle (?) of the inclined wire electrode based on the following equation: ?=tan?1?/H ?=|(X3?X1)?(X4?X2)|
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SODICK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasushi Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20070278190
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machine capable of maintaining machining-fluid temperature in a machining tank uniformly, even when the state of machining changes, for example between rough machining and finish machining. A first temperature sensor for detecting the machining-fluid temperature in a clean-fluid tank is provided to the clean-fluid tank or a machining-fluid cooling device. A second temperature sensor for detecting the machining-fluid temperature in the machining tank is provided. On the basis of machining conditions, etc., a controller of the wire electric discharge machine selects the second temperature sensor in machining producing much heat such as rough machining, and selects the first temperature sensor in machining producing little heat such as finish machining. The machining-fluid cooling device performs cooling control on the machining fluid in the clean-fluid tank based on the temperature detected by the selected temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Yuki Kita, Ryou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7294806
    Abstract: A device and method for measuring and adjusting an electrode used during electrical discharge taper machining, referenced on three axes, Y and Y horizontal and Z vertical, whereas two linear geometric references, bottom and top, which may be intersected by a wire, each of them lying in a plane XY, the references being offset from one another in a direction XY by a sufficient distance to make it possible to insert a vertical electrode between the two without either of them being intersected by the wire, a base element serving as a support to the references and as an attachment stay on the work bed of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Charmilles Technologies SA
    Inventors: François Martin, Friedhelm Altpeter
  • Patent number: 7282660
    Abstract: A table for placing a workpiece is grounded. An electrode for detecting machining fluid level is attached to an upper guide that guides the wire electrode, with the electrode insulated from the upper guide. A voltage is applied to the electrode, and the voltage between the electrode and the grounded table is detected and compared with a threshold value to determine whether the machining fluid level has reached a predetermined height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kawahara, Tomoyuki Furuta
  • Publication number: 20070228016
    Abstract: A wire electrode supply device capable of preventing slack and snapping of a wire electrode even using a heavy wire bobbin without using a wire electrode tension detector. A pulley is provided between the wire bobbin driven by a torque motor and a brake roller. The wire electrode unwinds from the wire bobbin, passes through the pulley, brake roller and a workpiece work area, and is taken up by a wind-up roller. When the wire electrode traveling speed is changed from fast to slow, the pulley descends to prevent the wire electrode from slackening between the wire bobbin and the brake roller. When the traveling speed is changed from slow to fast, the back tension from the torque motor is reduced for a predetermined period of time, reducing tension on the wire electrode and preventing it from snapping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Yuki Kita, Yushi Takayama, Yoshiaki Tamura
  • Publication number: 20070228015
    Abstract: A lower arm is passed through a slot in a machining tank. The slot of the machining tank is provided with a seal section for sealing with a plate-shaped seal member. The movable table is moved by a servomotor. The machining tank and a workpiece are fixed on the movable table. At the seal section, a seal member on the machining tank side slides with respect to the plate-shaped seal member, thereby generating a sliding resistance. This sliding resistance increases as a sludge produced by electric discharge adheres to the seal section, thereby distorting the lower arm and influencing the machining accuracy. Accordingly, a load that acts on the servomotor is detected, and a sliding resistance load at the seal section is obtained. When a reference load is exceeded by the detected resistance load, arrival of the seal section at the timing for maintenance is displayed and notified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Yuki Kita, Shinji Okuda, Hikaru Yamane
  • Patent number: 7262381
    Abstract: A controller for a wire cut electric discharge machine which can provide stable finish machining and corner-region machining with high corner-form accuracy. An electric discharge gap detection device detects a voltage between a wire electrode and a workpiece. A machining rate detection device obtains an average machining voltage and a drop voltage value Ex which is a difference between the obtained average machining voltage and a no-load voltage. A comparison device obtains the ratio Es/Ex between a reference drop voltage value Es stored in a reference machining rate relative value storage device and the obtained drop voltage value Ex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Kaoru Hiraga, Yuki Kita
  • Patent number: 7230200
    Abstract: A wire cutting device for an electrical discharge machining (EDM) machine with a wire draw-off device, which moves a wire electrode along a feed direction into a cutting zone of the EDM machine; and with a deflection unit in order to deflect the wire electrode running in the feed direction into the cutting zone from the feed direction into a cutting area, in which at least one cutting edge acts on the wire electrode in the cutting area in order to cut it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Agie SA.
    Inventor: Peter Wehrli
  • Patent number: 7217902
    Abstract: A wire-cut electric discharge machine which improves contact between a wire electrode and a conducting member without deforming the wire electrode to suppress production of minute electric discharges and reduce unnecessary loads on the wire electrode and the wire-cut electric discharge machine, and which makes it easy to make space on a wire traveling path to carry out automatic wire connection easily. In a wire-cut electric discharge machine having a conducting member for supplying an wire electrode with electric power for electric discharge machining, and making the wire electrode travel along a traveling path, sliding on the conducting member, a movable member capable of being moved nearer to and away from the conducting member is provided in a position opposite to the conducting member relative to the traveling path. By this arrangement, the contact between the wire electrode and the conducting member can be always kept without deforming the wire electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yuki Kita, Yushi Takayama, Yoshinori Makino
  • Patent number: 7211762
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machine and a wire electric discharge machining method in which a workpiece set posture is compensated for an error. After a workpiece is set and fixed on a workpiece table, an upper guide measures three or more three-dimensional positions that are not situated on one straight line on an upper surface of the workpiece, utilizing detection of contact with the upper surface. A unit normal vector is obtained, and a shift amount for shift from an originally set vertical position to a corrected position is calculated. In machining, the shift amount is added to the position to compensate for an angle error of a machined surface, and a deviation of a machined point position caused by inclination of the workpiece is collaterally compensated for. Thus, the machined shape cannot be distorted, and the workpiece set posture error can be compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kinoshita, Keiichiro Miyajima
  • Patent number: 7119300
    Abstract: An apparatus of asynchronous electric discharge machine for wire cut adopted for use in machine industries employs a first electric discharge machine unit and a second electric discharge machine unit to provide electric energy to a cutting wire to generate alternate ignition and discharge on a work piece. The asynchronous operation uses two different discharge circuits in two different time sequences to reduce the probability of occurring discharge at the same spot and effectively reduce pause time, and prevent the cutting wire from rupturing, thereby to reduce production cost and improve operation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jui-Fang Liang, Chen-Fu Tsai, Chia-Pin Chen
  • Patent number: 7109432
    Abstract: The electric power unit for machining of a wire electric discharge machine includes an electric discharge state discriminate or (1a) for discriminating a state of electric discharge generated between the electrodes and an impression voltage selecting means (1b) for inverting the polarity of the electric discharge inductive pulse voltage from the previous electric discharge inductive pulse voltage when an electric discharge state between the electrodes is discriminated to be abnormal (Y1) or open (Y3) and for making the polarity of the electric discharge inductive pulse voltage to be the same as the polarity of the previous electric discharge inductive pulse voltage when the electric discharge state between the electrodes is discriminated to be normal (Y2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Kobayashi, Takuji Magara
  • Patent number: 7083746
    Abstract: An optical component has working surfaces separated by neutral surfaces which constitute discontinuities between the working surfaces. The component is made by a method which comprises: forming, in a mould, surfaces complementary to the working and neutral surfaces of the component; and moulding the component on these surfaces of the mould. The step of forming the complementary surfaces in the mould is carried out by continuous cutting of a block of material using a cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Jean Claude Gasquet
  • Patent number: 7078645
    Abstract: A machining-fluid ejection device for a wire electric discharge machining apparatus includes a nozzle for ejecting machining-fluid into an inter-electrode gap between a workpiece (W) and a wire electrode (E), a casing (16) fixed to a machining head (15) disposed above or below the workpiece (W), a coupling member (18) for coupling the casing (16) and a nozzle (17), having a predetermined elastic coefficient, and deforming according to the machining-fluid pressure; an assemblage of the coupling member (18) and the nozzle (17) has hollow portions, formed with an inlet side internal diameter (D2) and an outlet side internal diameter (D1) on a machining-fluid inlet side and outlet side respectively, whose sectional areas do not change, and a hollow portion, formed with a minimum internal diameter (D0) between the machining-fluid inlet side and the outlet side, whose sectional area does not change. Machining productivity may be raised for nozzle contact machining and nozzle separation machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamada, Ryogo Koba, Takuji Magara, Masao Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 7038158
    Abstract: A wire cutting electric discharge machine has a high frequency voltage applying unit that applies a high frequency voltage and a direct current voltage applying unit applies a direct current voltage to the gap between the wire electrode and the workpiece. A detecting unit detects a low frequency component of a voltage occurring in the gap as a result of the electric discharge. The apparatus controls a feed rate based upon the state of the gap determined by the detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Kouichiro Hattori, Kazushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7019246
    Abstract: A discharge pulse number generated between a wire electrode and a workpiece is counted every predetermined time. A ratio Px/Ps of this counted value Px to the reference pulse number Ps will be determined to control an amount of coolant in response to this ratio Px/Ps. Also, in response to this ratio Px/Ps, an amount of movement within predetermined time is controlled. Further, through the ratio Px/Ps and the like, quiescent time to be controlled by the detection voltage generator is controlled. Thereby, surplus supply of energy is prevented, the machining speed and machining precision is improved and any disconnection of the wire electrode is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Masaki Kurihara, Kaoru Hiraga
  • Patent number: 7009133
    Abstract: A wire-cut electric discharge machine capable of taking out a cutoff piece smoothly upwardly of a workpiece even if the cutoff piece has a complicated shape, by holding the cutoff piece horizontally not to change an orientation thereof. The wire-cut electric discharge machine comprises a takeout head having a plurality of permanent magnets for holding the cutoff piece by magnetic force and a motion restriction member for restricting motion of the held cutoff piece relative to the permanent magnets. Sliding apparatus for sliding the plurality of magnets independently to project from and retract into the motion restricting member, transferring apparatus for transferring the takeout head and selecting apparatus for selecting at least one of the plurality of permanent magnets to exert the magnetic force on the cutoff piece in accordance with a shape of the cutoff piece are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Yushi Takayama, Yasuo Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7002093
    Abstract: A manual feeding device in a wire electric discharge machine in which selection between a jog feed and a step feed is made automatically without mode change. When an axis motion key is pressed, a timer measures the time for which the key is pressed. When the key is turned off before the time measured reaches a predetermined length of time on the basis of which switching to the jog feed is made, the step feed is performed, so that the axis is moved by a predetermined amount. When the key is pressed for the length of time predetermined for switching to the jog feed, the jog feed is started, so that the axis is moved at a low speed. Further, when the key is pressed for a length of time predetermined for switching to a medium speed, the feed axis is moved at the medium speed, and when the key is pressed for a length of time predetermined for switching to a high speed, the axis is moved at the high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Yasuo Arakawa, Naotake Takeyama
  • Patent number: 6998561
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machine capable of preventing a straightness error from being caused by consumption of a wire electrode, to eliminate insufficient machining. A correction angle ? is predetermined for preventing the straightness error of the workpiece due to consumption. Correction amounts d1?, d2? on a program plane and an upper surface of a workpiece, respectively, are determined based on the predetermined correction angle ?, and are added to or substracted from a predetermined offset amount depending on a wire electrode radius and an electric discharging gap, to determine corrected offset amounts d1, d2 on the program plane and the upper surface of the workpiece, respectively. Correction amounts dlo, dup for lower and upper wire guides in an offset direction are obtained based on the corrected offset amounts d1, d2, respectively, so that motion paths of upper and lower wire guides relative to the workpiece are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Junichi Kato, Keiichiro Miyajima, Yasuo Arakawa, Toshiyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 6998562
    Abstract: Set feed speed is lowered when a short circuit is detected in a range within which machining is unstable, the range starting from the point at which discharge is detected after machining starts from a machining start point, thus control is carried our according to a machining rate, thereby preventing successive occurrence of short circuits. When machining proceeds beyond the unstable range, the lowered feed speed is returned to the normal feed speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Yasuo Arakawa, Toshiyuki Ogata, Kaoru Hiraga
  • Patent number: 6984800
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machine capable of adjusting spacing between a nozzle and a workpiece without manual operation and without causing damage to a machine and a workpiece. The wire electric discharge machine includes wire supply apparatus for supplying a wire electrode through the wire guide toward the workpiece; wire supply-amount measuring apparatus for measuring a supply amount of the wire electrode; wire front-end detecting apparatus for detecting a front end of the wire electrode being supplied by the wire supply apparatus at a wire front-end detecting position; and wire contact detecting apparatus for detecting contact of the front end of the wire electrode with an upper surface of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Abe, Toshiyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 6979794
    Abstract: When starting a wire cutting operation, a first predetermined current is supplied from a power unit to a wire, and at the same time predetermined tension is applied from a tension applying device to the wire. When a first predetermined time elapses since the start of the wire cutting operation, the current supplied from the power unit is switched to a second predetermined current which is smaller than the first predetermined current, and also the predetermined tension is continuously applied, such that the wire is cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Yasuo Nakashima, Akiyoshi Kawahara
  • Patent number: 6972389
    Abstract: When die machining including machining processes from a rough machining process to a finish machining process is carried out on the same workpiece along a closed machining path, each of the points equally dividing a length of the closed machining path by the repetition number of machining processes is defined as an approach point, so that the approach points are different from each other for each machining process. This makes it possible to avoid a concentration of the approach points at one points thereby preventing a dent from being formed at the approach point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ogata, Shigetoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 6930272
    Abstract: A vise for holding a work piece in position on an EDM machine includes a main plate for attachment to the rail or ledge of the EDM machine, and the main plate supports a vise that holds the work piece in position during the machining process. The vise includes a movable jaw adjustable in the x direction and a solid jaw for clamping and holding the work piece therebetween. Both jaws include undercuts adjacent the work area of the vise, and the jaws define a clearance pocket so that the discharge wire can be moved to the work position adjacent the work piece. The solid jaw also provides a fixed and repeatable locating surface for the discharge wire so that the discharge wire can use the solid jaw to establish a reference point wherein the discharge wire touches off the solid jaw in order to move the discharge wire to the work position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Inventor: Michael P. Limano
  • Patent number: 6924453
    Abstract: The number of electric discharge pulses is detected every given period. A deviation between the detected number and a target number of electric discharge pulses is obtained. Based on the obtained deviation, a correction value for the correction of a machining path in a direction normal to the machining path is calculated, whereby a corrected path is obtained. A wire electrode is moved relatively to a workpiece along the corrected path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Kawahara, Tomoyuki Furuta
  • Patent number: 6921876
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the gap between an upper nozzle of a wire electric discharge machine includes placing a spacer member of a known thickness between a forward end of the upper nozzle and a workpiece. The forward end of the upper nozzle is brought into contact with the spacer member, so that the forward end of the upper nozzle is prevented from coming into direct contact with the workpiece. A Z-axis position of the upper nozzle is controlled on the basis of the thickness of the spacer member and the desired nozzle gap to set the gap between the forward end of the upper nozzle and the workpiece to a predetermined value. In controlling the Z-axis position of the upper nozzle, correction is made to compensate for a deformation of the upper guide, the spacer member, the workpiece, and the upper nozzle, and/or for a displacement of the upper guide resulting from a pressure of a working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Shinji Okuda, Mitsuyoshi Ishihara, Junichi Kato
  • Patent number: 6903297
    Abstract: A wire electrical discharge machining apparatus for machining a workpiece (2) by supplying discharge energy to a gap between a wire electrode (1a) and the workpiece (2) by a working-electric-power source (16) having a dc power supply (17) and switches (19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d) for switching an output voltage of the dc power supply (17), and by relatively moving the wire electrode (1a) and the workpiece (2) by a positioning device that includes: a controller (20) which, during machining in a gas, controls the turning on and off of the switches (19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d) so that the voltage is set to reverse polarity whereby the polarity of the wire electrode (1a) is made positive and the polarity of the workpiece (2) is made negative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Taichiro Tamida
  • Patent number: 6897398
    Abstract: A machining monitor has a depicting function for depicting the machining status of a wire electric discharge machine controlled by a numerical control device. The machining monitor has current position depicting means for depicting a current position according to current position information obtained during machining by the wire electric discharge machine and/or during an operation check by depicting, and has workpiece shape depicting means for depicting a workpiece shape according to workpiece shape information obtained during machining and/or workpiece shape information during an operation check by depicting. The machining monitor displays the workpiece shape and current position concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ogata, Koji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6897397
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wire electric discharge machining apparatus for machining a workpiece (1) by electric discharge in which driving means (9) relatively moves a wire electrode (5) and the workpiece (1) while machining power supplying means (10) supplies a working energy between the wire electrode (5) and the workpiece (1). The wire electric discharge machining apparatus comprises working energy adjusting means (13) for decreasing the working energy per unit movement distance of the wire electrode (5) when the distance between an approach point (O) connecting a runway portion (4) and a machining configuration portion (2) on the relative movement passage of the wire electrode (5) and the workpiece (1) and a center of the wire electrode (5) in the machining configuration portion (2) is within a range where the machining volume of the workpiece (1) per unit movement distance of the wire electrode (5) is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsushi Sato, Junichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 6888087
    Abstract: Automated wire connection is performed, and when the wire connection succeeds, the wire feed rate during the next connection is set to a value one stage faster. On the other hand, when connection fails the wire feed rate is set to a value one stage slower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventor: Naotake Takeyama
  • Patent number: 6884957
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machine having a simple mechanism for retracting and collecting a cutoff piece (machined chip or machined product). A cutoff piece receiving basket for receiving a cutoff piece produced during machining is attached to a support bar mounted to a lower guide block, the basket being rotatably supported by a rotary support shaft. A bearing provided in the support bar is located immediately short of a cam block, and then fitted into a slot by X-axis movement. A moment is applied to the support bar by Y-axis movement to rotate the cutoff piece receiving basket around the rotary support shaft, so that the basket is retreated to above a cutoff piece collecting box and then turned over, whereby a cutoff piece received in the basket falls into the collecting box. The cutoff piece receiving basket may be rotated manually or rotated by use of a robot, a special-purpose motor, an air cylinder, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc Limited
    Inventors: Yuki Kita, Yushi Takayama
  • Patent number: 6875943
    Abstract: An electrode for electric discharge machining comprises a high strength pearlitic steel wire having a carbon content higher than 0.6% and a tensile strength higher than 3000 N/mm2. The steel wire is coated with a copper free zinc or zinc alloy coating. The electrode is in particular suitable for high precision performance applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: N.V. Bekaert S.A.
    Inventors: Danny Gonnissen, Wim Van Vooren
  • Patent number: 6855904
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machining apparatus having a structure for supplying power to a wire electrode which prolongs the life of a power supply element and reduces manufacturing and running costs. A guide roller is driven by a small motor through a lead screw and guides the wire electrode above and/or below the power supply element, formed as a flat plate and driven in an oscillating direction perpendicular to a running direction of the wire electrode and parallel to a flat surface of the power supply element. A contact position of the wire electrode on the power supply element is varied over an area of a wide range, avoiding creation of a groove or the like, attributable to friction, in the power supply element and extending the life thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Inaba, Yushi Takayama
  • Patent number: 6847002
    Abstract: The microelectrode machining device disclosed by the invention mainly comprises a platform, a wire supply mechanism, a wire guide, and two (electric conductor)elements, wherein the platform can be fixed at an EDM machine and the wire supply mechanism is arranged on the platform for providing the wire needed in the EDM process, and the wire guide disposed on the platform has an arch-slide arranged thereon and a groove arranged at a position corresponding to the middle of the arch-slide on the wire guide, in addition, the two (electric conductor)elements are arranged on the platform to supply the power needed in the EDM process, and the two (electric conductor)elements are disposed respectively at the side of wire guide, and the altitudes of the bottom of both the wheel-shaped (electric conductor)element are lower than that of the wire exit and wire entrance of the arch-slide of the wire guide, in respective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ching-Cheng Yang, Jui-Kuan Lin, Chao-Chuang Mai, Hsin-Chuan Su
  • Patent number: 6844516
    Abstract: A wire cut electric discharge machine having rollers is disclosed. It has a wire electrode disposed in a working zone of the electric discharge machine. This wire electrode is rolled by a rolling device so that the cross-sectional area of this wire electrode changes from a circular area into an elongated one. After rolled, the wire electrode has two parallel rolled flat surfaces. The working width between these flat surfaces is smaller than the original diameter of the wire electrode before rolled. So, the cutting width is narrower than before. By using the rolled wire electrode, this invention can reduce the cutting width limit. I can improve the precision of the product, without changing the material property of the wire electrode. And, it can reduce the cost of the wire electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignees: Taiwan Micro System Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Lung Kuo, Zhi-Kai Xu, Yao-Fan Su, June-Chin Wang
  • Publication number: 20040256362
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wire electric discharge machining apparatus for machining a workpiece (1) by electric discharge in which driving means (9) relatively moves a wire electrode (5) and the workpiece (1) while machining power supplying means (10) supplies a working energy between the wire electrode (5) and the workpiece (1). The wire electric discharge machining apparatus comprises working energy adjusting means (13) for decreasing the working energy per unit movement distance of the wire electrode (5) when the distance between an approach point (O) connecting a runway portion (4) and a machining configuration portion (2) on the relative movement passage of the wire electrode (5) and the workpiece (1) and a center of the wire electrode (5) in the machining configuration portion (2) is within a range where the machining volume of the workpiece (1) per unit movement distance of the wire electrode (5) is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Tatsushi Sato, Junichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 6833523
    Abstract: A wire electrical discharge machining apparatus for machining a workpiece by supplying electric discharge energy to a gap between a wire electrode and the workpiece by machining-electric-power supplying section and by relatively moving the wire electrode and the workpiece by a positioning section has a fluid supplying section in which a working-fluid supplying section for supplying a working liquid to the gap, a mist supplying section for supplying a mist to the gap, a gas supplying section for supplying a gas to the gap, and a cooling-fluid supplying section for supplying the working liquid which is a cooling fluid for cooling the workpiece are combined and are formed integrally. It is possible to effect wire electrical discharge machining which is suitable for attainment of higher accuracy and higher quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Munenori Kimura, Akihiro Goto
  • Publication number: 20040251238
    Abstract: A machining monitor has a depicting function for depicting the machining status of a wire electric discharge machine controlled by a numerical control device. The machining monitor has current position depicting means for depicting a current position according to current position information obtained during machining by the wire electric discharge machine and/or during an operation check by depicting, and has workpiece shape depicting means for depicting a workpiece shape according to workpiece shape information obtained during machining and/or workpiece shape information during an operation check by depicting. The machining monitor displays the workpiece shape and current position concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ogata, Koji Suzuki