Wire electric discharge machine with stored discharge energy threshold function

• US 6,781,080 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Ukai, Yoshikazu, Miyake, Hidetaka, Sato, Tatsushi, Satou, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Geoffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US10/149,578
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 219/69.12, 219/69.13, 219/69.18
• US Class Current: 219/69.12
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 7/04 Apparatus for supplying current to working gap; Electric circuits specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A wire electric discharge machine includes storage means for storing threshold value data found from a relation between the normal electric discharge pulse energy and the electric discharge machining energy setting value corresponding to various electric discharge machining conditions; and a controller for controlling the electric discharge machining energy setting value so that the threshold value data can approach an operation point at which wire breakage occurs.

Claims

1. A wire electric discharge machine for conducting electric discharge machining on a workpiece by electric discharge generated in a working gap formed by a wire electrode and the workpiece by supplying electric discharge from a machining electric power source while a dielectric fluid is being supplied in the working gap formed by the wire electrode and the workpiece from flushing nozzles of dielectric fluid, comprising:

normal electric discharge pulse detection means for detecting a normal electric discharge pulse in the working gap;

normal electric discharge pulse calculation means for calculating normal electric discharge pulse energy from the detected normal electric discharge pulses;

storage means for storing threshold value data in which a predetermined margin is ensured from an operation point when wire breakage occurs, found from a relation between the normal electric discharge pulse energy and the electric discharge machining energy setting value corresponding to various electric discharge machining conditions; and

control means for controlling the electric discharge machining energy setting value so that the threshold value data can approach the operation point.

2. The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein as a parameter for changing the electric discharge machining energy setting value controlled by the control means, at least one parameter for setting an electric discharge frequency, such as a pause time or servo reference voltage, is used, and the threshold value data are set from a relation between the parameter and the normal electric discharge pulse energy.

3. The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 2, wherein the electric discharge machining conditions include a difference in a relative position between the electric discharge machining nozzle and the workpiece.

4. The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein as a parameter for changing the electric discharge machining energy setting value controlled by the control means, at least one parameter for setting electric discharge energy per one pulse, such as a peak electric current setting value or a pulse width, is used, and the threshold value data are set from a relation between the parameter and the normal electric discharge pulse energy.

5. The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 4, wherein the electric discharge machining conditions include a difference in a relative position between the electric discharge machining nozzle and the workpiece.

6. A wire electric discharge machine for conducting electric discharge machining on a workpiece by electric discharge generated in a working gap formed by a wire electrode and the workpiece by supplying electric discharge energy from a machining electric power source while a dielectric fluid is being supplied in the working gap formed by the wire electrode and the workpiece from a dielectric fluid nozzle, comprising:

normal electric discharge pulse detection means for detecting a normal electric discharge pulse in the working gap;

normal electric discharge pulse counting means for counting the number of normal electric discharge pulses from the detected normal electric discharge pulses;

storage means for storing threshold value data in which a predetermined margin is ensured from an operation point when wire breakage occurs, found from a relation between the number of normal electric discharge pulses and the pause time setting value corresponding to various electric discharge machining conditions; and

control means for controlling the electric discharge machining energy setting value so that the threshold value data can approach the operation point.

7. The wire electric discharge machine according to claim 6, wherein the electric discharge machining conditions include a difference in a relative position between the electric discharge machining nozzle and the workpiece.