General Electric Company

Nuovo Pignone Spa

Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie Srl

Yuanfeng Luo

Andrew Lee Trimmer

Renwei Yuan

Steven Robert Hayashi

Yimin Zhan

Bin Wei

Dale Robert Lombardo

Garth M Nelson

John Anthony Vogel

Ugo Cantelli

John Broddus Deaton, Jr

Yuefeng Luo

Dong Liu

Michael Scott Lamphere

Nouman Usmani

Massimo Arcioni

Hongtao Li

Bernard Adel Ibrahim

Yong Wu

Edward James Nieters

Robert Frank Hoskin

Lei Yang

Jun Cai

Adegboyega Masud Makinde

Xiaobin Chen

Howard Paul Weaver

Dragan Filipovic

Paolo Mola

Yuanyuan Guo

Francescosaverio Chiari

Kelvin Wang

Timothy Michael Moricca

Zhixue Peng

Jianping Wu

Allan Richard Bridges

Roberto Ciappi

Richard Leigh Adrian

Jeremy Gordon McNamara

Mark James Cintula

Renewi Yuan

John Broddus Deaton

A multi-loop controller component for an electric discharge machining (EDM) system includes a plurality of power loop circuits coupled to an output of a power supply of the EDM system and configured to receive DC electric power from the power supply. Each power loop circuits electrically-isolated from other power loop circuits. The multi-loop controller component also includes a plurality of transistors. Each transistor is coupled to a respective power loop circuit and is configured to switch between an ON state and an OFF state to generate a pulse of the DC electric power through the respective power loop circuit. In addition, the multi-loop controller component has a drive controller coupled to the plurality of transistors. The drive controller is configured to transmit at least one control signal to at least one of the transistors to facilitate switching the transistor between the ON state and the OFF state.

System and methods for electric discharge machining

An electrode applied in electro-machining processes, where the electrode includes a main body portion and at least one built-in internal flushing passage for introducing a flushing liquid to a volume between the electrode and a workpiece to be machined. The electrode is made by an additive fabrication process that enables specialized flushing for enhancing waste material evacuation and incorporate special material properties like zones of high electrical conductivity and thermal resistance. The fabrication process produces materials and geometries that could not otherwise be made using conventional processing.

Electrode and method for manufacturing the same

Electrode for an electro-erosion process, includes a shaft, a body coupled to the shaft, a plurality of machining-inserts, an insulated layer, and a flushing cover disposed on the body and coupled to the shaft. The shaft includes a channel, a plurality of first and second openings, each opening connected to the channel. The body includes a plurality of main-flushing channels, each channel connected to a corresponding first opening. The plurality of machining-inserts is spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction and detachably coupled to a peripheral end portion of the body. Each machining-insert includes at least one third opening connected to a corresponding main-flushing channel. The insulated layer is disposed on top and bottom surfaces of the body. The flushing cover includes a plurality of side-flushing channels and a plurality of fourth openings, each channel connected to a corresponding second opening.

Electrode for an electro-erosion process and an associated method thereof

A machining apparatus includes a curved outer conduit, a curved rotary electrode and a driving motor. The outer conduit has a cavity and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the cavity. The electrode includes a flexible shaft positioned in the cavity and having a first end and a second end, and a machining head having a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the cavity and electrically connected with the first end of the flexible shaft to be powered via the flexible shaft. The motor is mechanically coupled to the second end of the flexible shaft for driving the flexible shaft to rotate. A machining system includes the machining apparatus, a power supply for powering the flexible shaft, an electrolyte supply for providing electrolyte to the fluid inlet and a machine tool onto which the outer conduit and the motor are positioned.

Machining apparatus and machining system

An electroerosion machining system for trepanning and drilling operations is disclosed. The electroerosion machining system includes an electrode assembly configured to machine a desired configuration in a workpiece, a power supply configured to energize the electrode assembly and the workpiece to opposite electrical polarities, an electrolyte supply configured to pass an electrolyte between the electrode assembly and the workpiece, a working apparatus configured to move the electrode assembly relative to the workpiece, and a control system to control the power supply and the working apparatus. The electrode assembly further includes an electrode body in the form of a tube-shaped body, the tube-shaped body defining a hollow interior and one or more replaceable inserts affixed to the electrode body at a working end thereof positioned adjacent the workpiece, the one or more replaceable inserts constructed so as to be selectively attachable and detachable from the working end of the electrode body.

Electrode for electroerosion machining system

An electrical machining method comprises machining a workpiece by an electrical machining device comprising an electrode; increasing a feedrate of the electrode at a first acceleration if a discharge current passing through the electrode and the workpiece is lower than a discharge current reference; and decreasing the feedrate of the electrode at a second acceleration if the discharge current is higher than the discharge current reference, wherein the second acceleration has an absolute value higher than that of the first acceleration.

Electrical machining device and method, hybrid machining system and method

Tool electrodes for and methods of electrical discharge machining are provided. In one exemplary aspect, a tool electrode for machining features into a workpiece is provided that allows for increased machining speed without sacrificing the quality of the machined features. Moreover, a tool electrode is provided that eliminates or reduces the high cost associated with customized tool electrodes. In particular, a tool electrode is provided that includes a plurality of electrode elements arranged and spaced apart in a digitized matrix representative of a tooling shape for machining features into a workpiece. The plurality of electrode elements are spaced apart from one another and arranged in the digitized matrix by digitizing an analog electrode tool configured to machine the feature into the workpiece or a volume of the feature to be machined into the workpiece.

Tool electrode for and methods of electrical discharge machining

An electric discharge machining (EDM) system includes an electrode set having a plurality of electrodes. Each electrode is electrically-isolated from the other electrodes. The EDM system includes a power supply configured to generate an electric discharge between a workpiece and the electrode set to remove material from the workpiece. The power supply includes a multi-loop driver system and an AC-to-DC component that outputs DC electric power. The multi-loop driver system includes a plurality of power loop circuits coupled to an output of the AC-to-DC component. Each power loop circuit is electrically-isolated from other power loop circuits and is coupled to at least one electrode. The multi-loop driver system includes a drive controller coupled to the power loop circuits. The drive controller is configured to transmit at least one control signal to at least one power loop circuit to drive the AC-to-DC component to generate the electric discharge.

System and methods of multiple electrode electric discharge machining

A method for electroerosion machining includes providing an electrode assembly comprising an electrode body having a tube-shaped body that defines a hollow interior and one or more inserts affixed to the electrode body to form a cutting surface on the electrode assembly, positioning the electrode assembly adjacent a workpiece to be machined, and providing power to the electrode assembly so as to energize the electrode assembly, with the electrode assembly and the workpiece being at opposite electrical polarities. The method also includes advancing the electrode assembly through the workpiece, with a working gap being maintained between the inserts and the workpiece across which a pulse electric current is passed to remove material from the workpiece, wherein, upon advancing the electrode assembly through the workpiece, a core is formed that is completely separated from a remainder of the workpiece and is contained within the hollow interior of the electrode body.

Method for material recovery in electroerosion machining

The polishing system includes a power supply. The polishing system also includes a container including an interior portion. The interior portion includes a conductive material thereon. The conductive material is electrically coupled to the power supply. The polishing system also includes an electrolytic solution disposed within the container. The electrolytic solution includes a plurality of abrasive particles. The polishing system further includes a flexible media disposed within the container. The container is configured to contain an object. The power supply configured to electrically couple to the object. Each of the electrolytic solution, the flexible media, and the abrasive particles is configured to partially polish the object substantially simultaneously.

Method and apparatus for polishing metal parts with complex geometries

A machining system for electromachining a workpiece that in one embodiment includes a machine tool, a cutting tool for performing the eletromachining, and a tool holding apparatus for conductively holding the cutting tool and coupled to the machine tool. The tool holding apparatus includes a holding element for holding the cutting tool and at least one solution releasing element. The solution releasing element is used to receive machining solution and release the machining solution onto a predetermined area of the cutting tool through at least one group of channels. Each group of channels includes at least two channels configured to respectively release the machining solution onto at least two adjacent sections in the predetermined area of the cutting tool.

Machining system and tool holding apparatus thereof

Electrode for an electro-erosion process, includes a shaft, a body coupled to the shaft, a plurality of machining-inserts, an insulated layer, and a flushing cover disposed on the body and coupled to the shaft. The shaft includes a channel, a plurality of first openings and second openings, each opening connected to the channel. The body includes a plurality of main-flushing channels, where each channel is connected to a corresponding first opening. The plurality of machining-inserts is spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction and detachably coupled to a peripheral end portion of the body. Each machining-insert includes at least one third opening connected to a corresponding main-flushing channel. The insulated layer is disposed on top and bottom surfaces of the body. The flushing cover includes a plurality of side-flushing channels and a plurality of fourth openings, where each channel is connected to a corresponding second opening.

A method of machining a work-piece formed of titanium-based material, using a machining apparatus, is described. The method includes the steps of providing an electrically-conductive electrode contained within a spindle assembly, in a pre-selected distance and position relative to the titanium-based work-piece; while electrically powering the electrode and the work-piece with a power supply. In the process, fluid electrolyte is circulated through at least two pathways in the machining apparatus&#x2014;an internal conduit within the spindle assembly; and an external conduit. The charged electrode is moved relative to the work-piece in a plunging motion, to remove material from the work-piece at a relatively high rate, using a high-speed electro-erosion (HSEE) process.

Methods for the electroerosion machining of high-performance metal alloys

A drilling tool for use in machining a conductive work piece is provided. The tool includes a body portion, a forward electrode coupled to the body portion, and at least one side electrode coupled to the body portion. When electric current is supplied to the forward electrode and the at least one side electrode, material adjacent to the forward electrode and the at least one side electrode is removed from the conductive work piece. Further, the forward electrode and the at least one side electrode are selectively operable to form a bore hole having a variable geometry that extends through the conductive work piece when the material is removed therefrom.

Drilling tool and method of machining a conductive work piece

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Yuanfeng Luo