Method and generator for electrical discharge machining

• US 20070023400A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agie Charmilles SA (Georg Fischer AG), Charmilles Technologies SA (Georg Fischer AG)
• Original Assignee: Agie Charmilles SA (Georg Fischer AG)
• Inventors: Buhler, Ernst, Giandomenico, Nicola, Besson, Franck, D'Amario, Rino, Knaak, Reto
• Granted Patent: US 7,947,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/69.180
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 1/022 for shaping the discharge pulse train B23H1/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 2300/20 Relaxation circuit power supplies for supplying the machining current, e.g. capacitor or inductance energy storage circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 7/04 Apparatus for supplying current to working gap; Electric circuits specially adapted therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses separated from each other by pulse pauses for electrical discharge machining. At least two pulse capacitors are discharged each in the form of a partial pulse into the spark gap for forming together a discharge pulse. A discharge pulse having a predetermined waveform is selected from a plurality of discharge pulses having differing predetermined waveforms. The discharge of the at least two pulse capacitors is controlled such that the selected discharge pulse is generated with the predetermined waveform.

Claims

1. A method of generating a time sequence of discharge pulses separated from each other by pulse pauses for electrical discharge machining wherein at least two pulse capacitors are discharged each in the form of a partial pulse into the spark gap for forming together a discharge pulse, characterized in that a discharge pulse having a predetermined waveform is selected from a plurality of discharge pulses having differing predetermined waveforms and the discharge of said at least two pulse capacitors is controlled such that said selected discharge pulse is generated with said predetermined waveform.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the point in time of discharge, current amplitude, pulse duration and/or polarity of said partial pulses of said pulse capacitors are set such that said selected discharge pulse is generated with said predetermined waveform.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the current amplitude of said partial pulses is set via the charge voltage, the capacitance of said individual pulse capacitors and/or via the value of an inductance.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the pulse duration of said individual partial pulses is set via the capacitance of said individual pulse capacitors and/or via the value of an inductance.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said polarity of said individual partial pulses is set by an isolating transformer and switching elements in an inverter configuration.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein multiple pulse capacitors are discharged simultaneously into said spark gap.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein multiple pulse capacitors are discharged subsequently into said spark gap.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said pulse capacitors are discharged in the form of sinusoidal half waves into said spark gap and a selected discharge pulse is generated having a predetermined waveform which differs from the waveform of a sinusoidal half wave.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said point in time of discharge and said current amplitude of each partial pulse are determined by means of harmonic analysis of said predetermined waveform of said selected discharge pulse.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said capacitance, pulse duration and point in time of discharge of each partial pulse are selected so that the waveform of said selected discharge pulse approximates a square wave.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein for generating said approximated square wave of said selected discharge pulse said point in time of discharge and said current amplitude of each partial pulse generating said discharge pulse are determined by means of a mathematical model of a delay line.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said current amplitude, pulse duration and point in time of discharge of each partial pulse are selected so that said predetermined waveform of said selected discharge pulse comprises a predetermined rise time, a predetermined ripple and a predetermined fall time.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said current amplitude, pulse duration and point in time of discharge of each partial pulse are selected so that said predetermined waveform of said selected discharge pulse comprises at its end a current peak of specific duration and specific amplitude.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said current amplitude, pulse duration, polarity and point in time of discharge of each partial pulse are selected so that said predetermined waveform of said selected discharge pulse comprises at the end a current peak of opposite polarity to the remaining polarity of said discharge pulse of specific duration and specific amplitude.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said current amplitude, pulse duration, polarity and point in time of discharge of each partial pulse are selected so that said predetermined waveforms of said time sequence of discharge pulses each differ in form, duration, amplitude and/or polarity.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein on occurrence of an excessive charge voltage at said pulse capacitors the excessive energy thereof is fed back via a current source into a DC voltage source.

17. A generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses separated from each other by pulse pauses for electrical discharge machining, comprising at least two pulse capacitors for generating one partial pulse each, and coupled to said pulse capacitors a discharge controller which controls the discharge of said pulse capacitors into a spark gap for forming together a discharge pulse, characterized in by selecting means for selecting a discharge pulse having a predetermined waveform from multiple discharge pulses having differing waveforms, wherein said discharge controller controls the discharging of said at least two pulse capacitors such that said selected discharge pulse is generated having said predetermined waveform.

18. The generator according to claim 17 wherein said discharge controller sets said point in time of discharge, current amplitude, pulse duration and/or polarity of said partial pulses of said pulse capacitors such that said selected discharge pulse is generated with said predetermined waveform.

19. The generator according to claim 17 wherein said discharge controller comprises sensors for sensing said capacitor voltage at said pulse capacitors, a programmable digital circuit which receives signals from said sensors, a system interface which can configure said programmable digital circuit in bidirectional communication therewith and driver circuits which connect all switching elements provided for discharging said pulse capacitors to said programmable digital circuit.

20. The generator according to claim 17 which is arranged in the direct vicinity of said electrode and wherein the conductor connecting generator and work piece comprises a low stray inductance and high stray capacitance.

21. The generator according to claim 17 which comprises a controller in which the data sets for said predetermined waveforms of said multiple discharge pulses are stored and wherein said selecting means comprises a numerical control, said numerical control selecting one of said data sets in said controller.

22. The generator according to claim 17 wherein the selecting means comprises a numerical control which computes said data sets for said discharge controller for generating said predetermined waveforms of said multiple discharge pulses and communicates said selected data set to said discharge controller.

23. The generator according to claim 17 wherein the selecting means comprises a numerical control which stores said data sets for said discharge controller for generating said predetermined waveforms of said multiple discharge pulses in precomputed form and communicates said selected data set to said discharge controller.

24. The generator according to claim 20 wherein said controller is configured such that it multiplies all set values for said charge voltages of said pulse capacitors with a proportionality factor for changing the amplitude of a predetermined waveform.