Electrochemical grinding with a conductivity-controlled wheel electrode
First Claim
1. A method of electrochemically grinding a workpiece by a rotating electrically conductive, abrasive wheel electrode with a machining surface constituted by an electrically conductive matrix and a layer of electrically nonconductive abrasive protrusions projecting therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. preparing said wheel electrode with the machining surface of a contour corresponding to a shape to be imparted to said workpiece,b. treating said machining surface by electrochemically solubilizing said conductive matrix at said machining surface so as to impart thereto a conductivity which locally varies as a function of the shape of said machining surface, andc. electrochemically grinding said workpiece with said treated machining surface.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochemical grinding wheel of substantially uniform conductivity along its contoured grinding surfaces is modified to reduce the conductivity at locations generally parallel to the tool-feed direction (perpendicular to the machine surface) so that electrochemical removal of material from the workpiece occurs substantially only at those surfaces which are transverse to the tool-feed direction. This prevents overcutting of the workpiece.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method of electrochemically grinding a workpiece by a rotating electrically conductive, abrasive wheel electrode with a machining surface constituted by an electrically conductive matrix and a layer of electrically nonconductive abrasive protrusions projecting therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a. preparing said wheel electrode with the machining surface of a contour corresponding to a shape to be imparted to said workpiece, b. treating said machining surface by electrochemically solubilizing said conductive matrix at said machining surface so as to impart thereto a conductivity which locally varies as a function of the shape of said machining surface, and c. electrochemically grinding said workpiece with said treated machining surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of electrochemical grinding which comprises the steps of:
-
a. forming an electrochemical grinding wheel with a contoured machining surface and a substantially uniform electrical conductivity along said surface; b. selectively decreasing the electrical conductivity of portions of said surface extending generally parallel to a tool-feed direction by electrochemical solubilization of conductive material from said wheel; c. rotating said wheel in contact with a workpiece while supplying an electrolyte to the region of contact of said wheel with said workpiece and passing an electric current through said wheel and said workpiece to anodically solubilize portions of said workpiece juxtaposed with relatively more conductive portions of said surface; and d. feeding said wheel into said workpiece parallel to said direction by relatively displacing said wheel and said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (6)
-
-
7. A method of electrochemical grinding which comprises the steps of:
-
a. forming an electrochemical grinding wheel with a contoured machining surface and a substantially uniform electrical conductivity along said surface; b. selectively decreasing the electrical conductivity of portions of said surface extending generally parallel to a tool-feed direction; c. rotating said wheel in contact with a workpiece while supplying an electrolyte to the region of contact of said wheel with said workpiece and passing an electric current through said wheel and said workpiece to anodically solubilize portions of said workpiece juxtaposed with relatively more conductive portions of said surface; and d. feeding said wheel into said workpiece parallel to said direction by relatively displacing said wheel and said workpiece, the conductivity of portions of said surface being reduced in step (b) by electrochemically solubilizing material from said surface. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification