A multi-head electro-discharging machine, in which each head member has an independent transmission assembly; the head member can move in X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions by a guide screw rod; every head member can be adjusted independently for operation without intervening the others; every head member may be mounted with an electrode connector, and two head members can be operated simultaneously in a crossing manner; a plurality of head members are mounted along the rear side of a supporting frame of the machine, and one or more than one head members may be mounted on both ends of the supporting frame for further multi-processing operation.

Multi-head type of electro-discharging machine

Arc torch for plasma arc cutting or welding comprising an interchangeable cartridge comprising an electrode and a nozzle, and connecting elements between the cartridge and the body of the arc torch to axially insert and remove the cartridge by a purely rectilinear movement. The arc torch can be used as part of a machine comprising a station for extracting used cartridges and a station for loading new cartridges into the arc torch.

Arc working torch and machine, and cartridge for said torch

Structure for and method of electrical discharge machining with a wire electrode to produce small holes including completely controlling electrical discharge machining parameters such as voltage, reactance, current and servo speed with a programmable microprocessor, central processing unit sensing first sparking between the wire electrode and the workpiece and controlling depth of cut from the position of the electrode on spark initiation electrode feeding to replenish eroded electrode through clamping sequencing between an electrical discharge machine head and an electrode carrying slide thereon. In accordance with the invention there is also provided ultrasonic vibration of at least one of the workpiece, a wire electrode guide and the electrode during machining. Also, the slide is driven by a screw and nut combination including a plastic extruded between the screw and nut to remove backlash therefrom and the tapered end of the wire electrode is removed prior to electrical discharge machining therewith by machining with the tapered end of the electrode with a reverse polarity, that is with a high wear polarity, between the electrode and workpiece, and splitting of the wire electrode is substantially eliminated by increasing the pulse time of the cutting parameters and lowering the current thereof while flushing at a low velocity.

Structure for and method of electrical discharge machining

There is disclosed herein an electrical discharge 
machine including a pick-and-place system for transferring 
electrode refeed cartridges (50) from a storage turret to an EDM 
work station from either one or two indexable turrets (38, 40). A 
plurality of equally spaced electrode cartridge assemblies 
are each removably mounted on each turret (38, 40) by magnets (62) and 
guide pins. A slide assembly (48) is vertically positioned 
between a cartridge assembly load and unload elevation and 
an EDM work station elevation. The slide assembly (48) includes 
a movable connector plug assembly selectively driven by an 
EDM cylinder fixed on the slide assembly (48). The connector 
plug assembly supplies refeed cylinders on a slide mounted 
cartridge assembly and vertically reciprocates a power 
connector receptacle and drive head on such cartridge 
assembly. The receptacle and drive head include an 
electrode guide board guiding one or more electrodes with 
respect to a workpiece. The slide-mounted, fixed EDM 
cylinder moves the drive head to position such electrodes 
toward and away from the workpieces to spark erode desired 
openings therein. The connector plug assembly and 
receptacle cooperate to disconnect and connect the 
respective electrode cartridge assemblies with respect to 
the drive unit and with respect to a source of air and 
electricity operative to sense when the respective 
electrodes become worn and to refeed electrodes to 
compensate for electrode wear.

Electrical discharge machining apparatus with exchangeable electrode refeed cartridge

In a multiple axis electrical discharge machine having a pair of indexable turrets each of which carries a plurality of electrode cartridges each with a supply of electrodes, the improvement of individually releasable electrodes in each cartridge which are configured to be transferred to a tool holder to be precisely positioned therein; the machine further includes a programmable electrode tool holder carousel and opposed tool carriers for moving preselected combinations of tool holders and electrodes between an electrode transfer station and a tool changer for transferring the selected electrode to a servo driven spindle head.

System for positioning and transferring EDM electrodes

Electrical discharge machining apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of substantially parallel electrodes, a carriage mounted on the frame for guided movement in a vertical direction, and a cartridge assembly supporting the electrodes and removably mounted on the carriage so that the electrodes extend vertically. Manually operable gripper means is provided for feeding the electrodes downwardly after each machining operation into engagement with the workpiece so as to compensate for electrode wear experienced during one or more preceding machining operations. Positive stop anti-short power means is combined with the carriage to enable retraction of the electrodes out of engagement with the workpiece into a predetermined spaced relation with the workpiece at least as great as the desired spark gap spacing between the electrodes and the workpiece during machining. The cartridge assembly includes a cartridge member provided with contact blocks connected to a supply of current and engaged with the electrodes during machining.

Multi-electrode electrical discharge machining apparatus

Electric discharge machine

L'INVENTION CONCERNE UNE MACHINE A DECHARGES ELECTRIQUES 10 COMPRENANT UN CHASSIS 12 SUPPORTANT: UNE MONTURE DE PIECE 14; UN ELEMENT DE CHASSIS VERTICAL; UN ELEMENT DE SUPPORT MONTE DE FACON COULISSANTE SUR CE DERNIER; UNE OU DEUX TOURELLES 18, 20 MONTEES DE FACON INDEXABLE SUR L'ELEMENT DE SUPPORT; UN ENSEMBLE DE CARTOUCHES A ELECTRODES 28 REGULIEREMENT ESPACEES ET MONTEES DE FACON AMOVIBLE SUR CHAQUE TOURELLE, CHAQUE CARTOUCHE COMPRENANT UN GUIDE D'ELECTRODE 32 ET UNE OU PLUSIEURS ELECTRODES 34 TRAVERSANT CELUI-CI JUSQUE JUSTE AU-DESSUS D'UNE PIECE 36; UNE UNITE D'ENTRAINEMENT APTE A DEPLACER L'ELEMENT DE SUPPORT ET LA TOURELLE POUR POSITIONNER LA CARTOUCHE ET LES ELECTRODES PAR RAPPORT AUX PIECES 36; DES MOYENS D'ACCOUPLEMENT AMOVIBLES POUR RELIER LES CARTOUCHES A L'UNITE D'ENTRAINEMENT ET A UNE SOURCE D'AIR ET D'ELECTRICITE.

Frederick L Fitts

Papers

Multi-electrode electrical discharge machining apparatus

Electric discharge machine

Machine multi-electrodes pour usinage par decharges electriques