Abstract:
A work element supported by a thermally deflectable member in an operating machine tool is held against mispositioning by causing a fluid to flow through a passage formed in the member of the machine tool performing a machining operation to hold the member in a heat-exchanging relationship with the fluid and maintaining the difference in temperature between the fluid flowing into the passage of the member and the fluid flowing out of that passage substantially constant. Two thermistors are used to detect the temperatures of the flowing fluid at an inlet side and at an outlet side, respectively, and a signal representing a temperature difference detected is compared with a threshold value representing a preselected temperature difference to provide a deviation signal which is used to control the rate of flow of the fluid through the passage and/or the temperature of the flow-in fluid. Preferably, the latter is held constant and the former is controlled in response to the deviation or control signal.
Abstract:
An improved method and apparatus for automatically resetting a wire electrode (E) in an operating setup on a traveling-wire electroerosion machine (e.g. a TW-EDM machine) is disclosed. Upon termination of a given machining operation with the machine commenced with a starting hole (h1) in the workpiece (W), the wire electrode spanning in a continuous stretch between a supply side (5) and a collection side (27) is broken in a region adjacent to the workpiece and at one of the opposite sides thereof by forming in the wire electrode in the said region at least two coplanar grooves disposed substantially symmetrically about the longitudinal axis thereof, and then applying a tension to the wire electrode to break the latter at a neck formed by the said grooves. One broken end portion of the broken wire electrode is threaded into and through a new starting hole (h2) in a workpiece for machining a contour therein in the subsequent machining operation to reestablish the said continuous stretch of the wire electrode between the supply and collection sides. An air jet may be applied through a nozzle (70) at least in the region of the wire electrode to be heated, grooved and broken so as to blow off any residue of the machining liquid which remains adherent to the wire electrode whereby to allow the latter to be uniformly heated without any localized thermal stress. This enables the wire electrode to be broken with straight broken end portions.
Abstract:
A method of and apparatus for electroerosively machining a 3D cavity in workpiece, in which a coil is wound on a tool electrode and energized by a current source to produce a magnetic field therein. The magnetic field of flux density in excess of 100 Gauss and preferably not less than 300 Gauss is passed through the ferromagnetic electrode body and applied to the machining gap formed between the tool electrode and the workpiece which are relatively displaced multiaxially under commands of a NC unit to cause the frontal end portion of the tool electrode to sweep in a scanning manner over the workpiece while following a prescribed 3D path to progressively develop the desired cavity electroerosively machined with a succession of electrical discharges affected by the magnetic field. The energization source for the coil includes a control circuit operated by a preprogrammed set of command signals form the NC unit to sequentially modify the magnetic field in accordance with the instantaneous geometrical change of the workpiece area confronting the machining electrode face to maintain the concentration of contaminants in the gap at an optimum level.
Abstract:
Electrodeposition is carried out using an electric current which is applied in the form of pulses between a workpiece and an electrode in an electrolyte from which metal is to be deposited upon the workpiece. The pulses have a pulse duration not greater than 100 microseconds and the pulse duration is preferably between 1-50 microseconds while the off time or interval between adjacent pulses is more than twice as long as the on time of the pulses.
Abstract:
The disclosed method and apparatus are related to the machine for and process of cutting a desired contour in a workpiece with an axially traveling elongate tool by relatively displacing the workpiece and the elongate tool transversely to the traveling axis of the latter along a predetermined cutting path describing the contour whereby the workpiece is progressively divided, along the cutting path, into a first portion held secured with a work support and a second portion tending, by its own gravity, to fall off the first. The fall-off is prevented according to the invention with a plurality of attractable members, e.g. permanent magnets, which are spacedly juxtaposed with the workpiece and releasably retained with respective support holders on a support assembly. During the course of cutting of the contour in the workpiece, these members are successively released and propelled from the respective support holders to deposit sequentially at spaced-apart locations on the advancing cutting path so that each of the members firmly bridges the first and second portions across the cut groove.
Abstract:
A multi-strand wire electroerosion machining method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a plurality of wires dispensed from respective wire sources are fed separately into a wire travel path and are assembled via wire guides into a bundle thereof. The bundle of the wires traversing a fluid-flushed cutting zone defined between machining electrode guides constitutes a single traveling electrode for electroerosively machining a workpiece. The wires from the cutting zone are taken up into a collection site while they are held sufficiently taut between the electrode guides. The workpiece is displaced relative to the bundle of traveling wires transversely to the axis thereof to machine a desired contour in the workpiece. Preferably, the wires in the bundle are twisted. Also disclosed is a rotary die for shaping the wires in their travel path to provide the bundle with a predetermined cross-sectional contour spaced from the wall of the workpiece across the machining gap.
Abstract:
Electroerosion machining method and apparatus in which the machining gap formed between a tool electrode and a workpiece is immersed in a water liquid to surround and enclose the gap therewith in the absence of a hydrocarbon liquid surrounding the gap. The hydrocarbon liquid is injected in a forced flow under an external pressure into the machining gap immersed in, and surrounded by and enclosed with, that water liquid, whereupon electrical discharges are initiated with a discharge medium which is at least predominantly constituted with the injected hydrocarbon liquid. The water liquid may be of a relatively static mass retained in a worktank, in which mass the workpiece and at least that portion of the tool electrode which is juxtaposed therewith are immersed. The injected hydrocarbon liquid upon undergoing the electrical discharges is allowed to diffuse into the water liquid surrounding the gap to float onto the surface thereof. Alternatively, with the hydrocarbon liquid directed in at least one narrow stream selectively into the machining gap, the water liquid may be present to surround and enclose the machining gap by being directed in a flow toward the workpiece to serve as an envelope flow for the narrow stream of the hydrocarbon liquid which acts to force the water flow substantially not to enter the machining gap and then to force it to spread over a portion of the workpiece surrounding the machining gap. The tool electrode may be a continuous wire electrode.
Abstract:
An ion-processing method and apparatus utilizing a slender tubular member having an open end and communicating with an inlet conduit. The tubular member is positioned to bring the open end in spaced juxtaposition with a workpiece across a small gap of a size of 10 and 1000 .mu.m in an evacuated an ionizable material is supplied into the slender tubular member through the inlet conduit for feeding it into the small gap through the open end. A power supply is provided to energize the supplied gas to form ions thereof and to apply an accelerating potential to the formed ions to propel them in a beam across the small gap to impinge upon a limited area of the surface of the workpiece juxtaposed with the open end of the slender tubular member. The pressure within the small gap, ranging between 10.sup.-4 and 10.sup.-1 Torr, is maintained in excess of the pressure of the surrounding the gap, ranging between 10.sup.-6 and 10.sup.-4 Torr.
Abstract:
A method of treating a preshaped magnetic material wherein a mechanical vibration and/or a high-energy beam are applied to the material held in a magnetic field.
Abstract:
A method of and apparatus for electrodepositing a metal upon a substrate having one or more recesses of substantial depth to form the metal deposit throughout the surfaces and in the recesses as well. An electrode assembly comprises an elongate anode and a tubular insulator traversed by the elongate anode so that the insulator partially covers the lateral surface of the electrode which is movable in its longitudinal direction. The electrode assembly is positioned to dispose a forward end portion thereof in the recess and to position the tubular insulator on the elongate anode so as to allow only a forward end face portion of the anode to be substantially exposed and the face portion to be juxtaposed with a floor portion of the substrate in the recess. An electrodepositing solution is supplied into the recess and an electric current is passed between the anode and the substrate to permit the metal from the solution to be selectively electrodeposited on the floor portion. Subsequently, the tubular insulator is gradually withdrawn while permitting the elongate anode to remain stationary to progressively increase the lateral area of the elongate anode exposed from the insulator, thereby progressively displacing the region of electrodeposition on the wall surface in the recess.