Raycon Corporation

Ex-cell-o Gmbh

Thomas M Kennedy

Gary F Rupert

John R MacGregor

David K Holland-Moritz

John R McGregor

Electric discharge machining of workpieces on a mass production basis is accomplished with adaptive feedback control to achieve accurate machining of a feature to a specified size. After machining a feature, it is measured to obtain a value which represents its size. An EDM process parameter is adjusted in accordance with the measurement value so that the next feature will be machined with the size closer to the specified size. Multiple features are machined in succession and the measurement values of successive features are analyzed to determine the trend of change of the values with respect to the specified size. The parameter, such as spark energy, is adjusted in a sense which tends to cause the succeeding features to machined more accurately to the specified size.

Method and apparatus for electric discharge machining with adaptive

EDM apparatus has a servo drive under the control of a main control system for advancing a machining electrode toward a conductive workpiece. When the electrode arrives at a surface of the workpiece to commence EDM machining, the main control system causes a sudden deceleration of the servo. The depth controller detects this sudden deceleration by means of a sensor and sets a zero reference plane from which machining depth is measured. The depth controller can also detect electrode breakthrough by detecting servo acceleration occurring when the electrode breaks through a surface of the workpiece.

Electronic depth controller for EDM apparatus

An electronic depth controller is associated with EDM apparatus for controlling the depth of holes which are machined in workpieces by the EDM apparatus. The electronic depth controller comprises its own microprocessor which acts upon selectable input data from a control panel to provide signals relating to hole depth control to the main control system of the EDM apparatus. The electronic depth controller is selectively operable to one or the other or both of two operating modes. Data relating to each mode is input to the system via switches on the control panel.

A process control system for electrical discharge machining apparatus to control automatically the machining of a workpiece. The process control system is operable to receive and retain a plurality of operation instructions regarding electrical discharge machining parameters and transmit operation commands to the electrical discharge machining apparatus to execute the operation instructions in controlling the complete machining of a workpiece. The process control means includes a storage unit operable to store a plurality of operation instructions enabling absolute repeatability of the machining process defined by the operation instructions in the storage unit for a plurality of workpieces. The process control system also includes a digitally controlled servo system to regulate the movement of the electrode toward and away from the workpiece.

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Chelsea, MI, United States of America

Thomas M Kennedy