WIRE ELECTRODE ELECTRIC EROSION DEVICE

• US 3,849,624 A
• Filed: 05/29/1973
• Issued: 11/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arney Landy Jr, David H. Dulebohn, Roy Earl Brandt
• Original Assignee: Arney Landy Jr, David H. Dulebohn, Roy Earl Brandt
• Inventors: Dulebohn, David H., Landy, Arney Jr., Brandt, Roy Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, Bruce A.
• Application Number:
  US05/364,830
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 219/69V,69G,121EB,125PL 33/25R
• US Class Current: 219/69.12
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 7/06 Control of the travel curve of the relative movement between electrode and workpiece

Abstract

A device for electrically inducing the cutting of a workpiece with a wire electrode. The workpiece and electrode are moved relative to each other such that the electrode follows a predetermined path on the workpiece. The electrode is inclined and orbits about a vertical line in response to changes in the direction of the path on the workpiece. A drive control responds to the gap between the workpiece and electrode to stop their relative movement and the orbiting of the electrode when the gap becomes smaller than a preselected value. When the gap again equals the preselected value, electrode orbiting is enabled followed by the enabling of further relative movement between workpiece and electrode when the electrode orbiting has been completed. Electrode orbiting and relative workpiece - electrode movement remain enabled until the gap again becomes smaller than the preselected value. In this manner, it is possible to electrically induce the cutting of a compound angle in a workpiece so as to directly provide a relief in a die or other similar product.

Claims

1. In combination, a tracer and tracer control device for controlling the electrically induced cutting of a workpiece, the combination comprising:

means responsive to the direction of successive portions of a line to be traced for generating a first signal indicative of the direction of said line portions and a second signal indicative of an error in said first signal;

means responsive to said second signal and operatively connected to said line portion responsive means for altering said first signal;

wire electrode means;

means for producing a relative movement between said workpiece and wire electrode means in accordance with said first signal;

means for inclining said wire electrode means within a plane; and

means responsive to said second signal for maintaining the plane of said inclined electrode means at right angles to said direction of relative movement between said workpiece and said inclined electrode means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inclining means comprises first electrode guide means lying within said plane and spaced from one surface of said workpiece, said plane maintaining means comprising means for orbiting said first electrode guide means about a generally vertical line withiN said plane.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first electrode guide means orbiting means comprises pantograph means.

4. The combination of claim 3 further comprising means for incorporating an offset signal into said first signal.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said inclining means comprises second electrode guide means lying within said plane and spaced from another surface of said workpiece, said plane maintaining means comprising means for orbiting said second electrode guide means about said generally vertical line.

6. The combination of claim 5 further comprising means for incorporating an offset component into said first signal.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inclining means comprises first and second electrode guide means within said plane and spaced from opposing surfaces of said workpiece, said plane maintaining means comprising means for orbiting at least one of said first and second electrode guide means about a generally vertical line within said plane.

8. The combination of claim 7 further comprising means responsive to the gap between said workpiece and said wire electrode means for controlling said relative movement producing means and said plane maintaining means.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said gap responsive means comprises means for preventing movement between said workpiece and wire electrode means when said gap becomes smaller than a preselected value.

10. The combination of claim 8 wherein said gap responsive means comprises means for disabling said plane maintaining means and said relative movement producing means when said gap becomes smaller than a preselected value.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said gap responsive means comprises means for sequentially enabling said plane maintaining means and said relative movement producing means.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said inclining means comprises means for orbiting both said first and second electrode guide means about said generally vertical line.

13. The combination of claim 11 further comprising means for incorporating an offset component into said first signal.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said inclining means comprises means for orbiting both said first and second electrode guide means about said generally vertical line.

15. A device for controlling the electrically induced cutting of a workpiece which comprises:

inclined wire electrode means;

a source of directional indications;

means for producing a relative movement between said workpiece and inclined electrode means in accordance with said directional indications;

means for detecting a change in said directional indications;

electrode guide means spaced from opposing sides of said workpiece, at least one of said electrode guide means being orbitable in a generally circular arc in response to said change detecting means; and

drive control means responsive to the gap between said workpiece and said inclined electrode means for disabling said relative movement producing means and said orbitable electrode guide means when said gap becomes smaller than a preselected value, said drive control means including means for sequentially enabling said orbital electrode guide means and said relative movement producing means when the gap is at least equal to said preselected value.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said means for sequentially enabling comprises means for enabling said orbitable electrode guide means when said gap is at least equal to said preselected value.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said means for sequentially enabling comprises means for enabling said relative movement producing means in the absence of a change in said directional indications and maintaining said enabled conditions so long as said gap is at least equal to said preselected value.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said source of directional indications comprises means for incorporating an offset component into Said indications.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein there are two electrode guide means each orbitable in a generally circular arc in response to said change detecting means such that said inclined wire electrode means moves in a conical path.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the vertex of the cone defined by said conical path is in the same operative position with respect to said workpiece as it would otherwise be in if the wire electrode means were not inclined.

21. A device for controlling the electrically induced erosion of a workpiece which comprises:

wire electrode means;

a record of the desired direction of relative movement between said workpiece and said wire electrode means;

means responsive to said record for producing a first signal indicative of the relative movement direction of said record and a second signal indicative of a change in the relative movement direction of said record;

means responsive to said second signal and operatively connected to said record responsive means for altering said first signal;

wire electrode means;

means for producing a relative movement between said workpiece and wire electrode means in accordance with said first signal;

means for inclining said wire electrode means within a plane;

means responsive to said second signal for maintaining the plane of said inclined electrode means at right angles to the direction of relative movement between said workpiece and said inclined electrode means; and

drive control means responsive to the gap between said workpiece and said inclined electrode means for disabling said relative movement producing means and said plane maintaining means when the gap becomes smaller than a preselected value, said drive control means including means for sequentially enabling said plane maintaining means and said relative movement producing means when the gap is at least equal to said preselected value.

22. A device for controlling the electrically induced erosion of a workpiece which comprises:

wire electrode means;

a record of the desired direction of relative movement between said workpiece and said wire electrode means;

means responsive to said record member for producing a relative movement between said workpiece and said wire electrode means in accordance with the relative movement directions thereon;

means for inclining said wire electrode means within a plane;

means responsive to said record member for maintaining the plane of said wire electrode means at right angles to the direction of relative movement between said workpiece and said wire electrode means; and

drive control means responsive to the gap between said workpiece and said inclined electrode means for disabling said relative movement producing means and said plane maintaining means when the gap becomes smaller than a preselected value, said drive control means including means for sequentially enabling said plane maintaining means and said relative movement producing means when the gap is at least equal to said preselected value.

23. The device of claim 22 further comprising offset signal means, said relative movement producing means comprising means for incorporating said offset signal into the relative movement directions of said record member.