Wire-cut electric discharge machine

• US 20060065637A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Kita, Yuki, Makino, Yoshinori, Takayama, Yushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,217,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/69.120
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 7/107 Current pickups

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.

Claims

1. A wire-cut electric discharge machine for performing electric discharge machining using a wire electrode which extends between an upper head and a lower head and travels in an extending direction thereof, comprising:

a conducting member for supplying the wire electrode with electric power for the electric discharge machining in sliding contact with the wire electrode, and

a movable member arranged in at least one of the upper head and the lower head to confront said conducting member with a path of traveling of the wire electrode in between, and movable close to and apart from said conducting member.

2. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein said conducting member and said movable member hold the wire electrode in between such that the wire electrode extends along a substantially straight line.

3. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is moved close to said conducting member to press the wire electrode against said conducting member so that the wire electrode travels in sliding contact with said conducting member.

4. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is moved apart from said conducting member in performing an automatic connection of the wire electrode.

5. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 4, wherein said movable member is moved and held apart from said conducting member when a predetermined condition is fulfilled.

6. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined condition relates to one of a diameter of the wire electrode, material of the wire electrode and a machining parameter.

7. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 1, further comprising position detecting means for detecting a position of said movable member, wherein said position detecting means detects a position of said movable member pressing the wire electrode against said conducting member, to determine a diameter of the wire electrode.

8. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 7, wherein said movable member is selectively moved close to and apart from said conducting member in accordance with the determined diameter of the wire electrode.

9. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein a surface of said movable member to be in contact with the wire electrode has a circular shape.

10. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein said movable member comprises a cylindrical body arranged movable along an axis thereof and rotatable about the axis.

11. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 10, wherein said movable member rotates about the axis with motion along the axis.

12. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is made of insulating material.

13. A wire-cut electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is moved by fluid pressure.