JPH05277832A - Electric discharge machining method and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate profile machining for an electrode, and thereby enhance freedom in machining by generating laser light in the direction of an electric discharge path, and thereby guiding the electric discharge that way. CONSTITUTION:An electric discharge machining power supply 3 is operated based on a command from a tuning control means 6, so that machining voltage is applied to a wire electrode 7 supplied by an electrode supply means 2. The application of voltage allows electric discharge to be induced toward a grounded work 10 from the tip end 8 of the wire electrode 7, and the aforesaid discharge is guided along the light path of laser light 12 which is low in electric resistance within a vacuum means 15. Thus, electric discharge machining is carried out on the working area of the work 10 while being guided by the laser light 12. As a result, profile machining for an electrode is eliminated, and furthermore, a profile of the work can be controlled by the laser light without moving the electrode or the work. Machining high in freedom can thereby be carried out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric discharge machining method and apparatus used for machining metal such as carving.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electric discharge machining is used for cutting and carving metal products. In the electric discharge machining, the workpiece 10 and the machining electrode 107 are opposed to each other as shown in FIG. 2, the workpiece is discharged from the machining electrode, and the workpiece is cut by impact.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional electric discharge machining apparatus, when performing die-sinking electric discharge machining on a workpiece, the electrode is previously machined into a specific shape corresponding to the shape of the workpiece. Since it is necessary to process the electrodes, it is a labor-intensive process and the processing fee is expensive. Even if the discharge electrode is precisely machined to have such a specific shape, the electrode will be consumed over time as the electric discharge machining progresses, resulting in an error in the finished product.

There is a wire cut electric discharge machine as another electric discharge machine which does not require machining of a specific shape on such an electrode, but this wire cut electric discharge machine is limited to machining a two-dimensional shape of a workpiece. Has been done. Since the electric discharge position cannot be controlled in this wire-cut electric discharge machine, the workpiece itself must be moved when moving the machined part of the workpiece, and the holding device or moving device for the workpiece. Is complex and expensive. Further, in this way, the conventional wire cut electric discharge machine cannot control the discharge direction from the electrode, so that, for example, when chips or the like are accumulated at the location where the discharge reaches, the discharge is concentrated, which is good. I couldn't process it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is not necessary to preprocess the electrode shape in accordance with the final shape of the workpiece, and therefore, the processing can be performed quickly, and Electric discharge that enables low-cost machining, can freely select the discharge position, and can control the machining shape with a laser without moving the electrode or the workpiece, thus enabling machining with a high degree of freedom An object of the present invention is to provide a processing method and device.

[0006]

To this end, the electric discharge machining method of the present invention is characterized in that a laser beam is generated in the direction of the path to be discharged to induce the discharge. Further, the electric discharge machining device of the present invention includes an electric discharge machining power supply, an electrode supply device for supplying a discharge electrode, a laser light generator for generating laser light, and a laser light for controlling the direction of the laser light generated by the laser light generator. A control device,
It is characterized by comprising an electric discharge machining power source, a laser light generator, and a tuning controller for controlling tuning of the laser light controller.

[0007]

A high-voltage current is applied from the electric discharge machining power source to the wire electrode supplied from the electrode supply device, and electric discharge is performed from the tip of the wire electrode toward the workpiece. On the other hand, the laser light generator operates to generate laser light toward the processed portion of the workpiece. Electric discharge is induced by this laser light, and eventually electric discharge is performed to the processed portion designated by the laser light.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing one embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an electric discharge machine used in the electric discharge machine method of the present invention. The electric discharge machine 1 includes an electrode supply device 2, an electric discharge power supply 3, a laser light generator 4, a laser light controller 5, and a tuning controller 6. The electrode supply device 2 supplies the wire electrode 7 toward the workpiece 10. A gap 11 is maintained between the tip 8 of the wire electrode 7 and the workpiece 10. The workpiece 10 is grounded.

The electric discharge machining power source 3 is a power source for applying a high voltage current, for example, a current of about 10 KV to the wire electrode 7. The laser beam generator 4 is a device for generating a YAG laser of about 5 K watts and a Ferunmon laser HE-ME laser. The laser light controller 5 is a device for changing the optical path of the laser light 12 generated from the laser light generator 4. The laser light control device 5 includes a prism 13 inserted in the optical path of the laser light 12 and a drive device 14 that drives the prism 13. The electrode supply device 2, the electric discharge machining power source 3, the laser light generation device 4, and the laser light control device 5 operate in synchronization with each other based on a command from the tuning control device 6.

Next, the electrical discharge machining operation in the electrical discharge machining apparatus 1 thus constructed will be described. The laser light generator 4 operates based on a command from the tuning controller 6 to generate the laser light 12. The laser light 12 enters the prism 12 of the laser light control device 5, the optical path is changed, and the laser light 12 is applied to the processed portion of the workpiece 10. The workpiece 10 of the electric discharge machine 3 is placed in the vacuum device 15, and the laser beam 1
When 2 passes through the vacuum device 15, the gas such as air remaining in the vacuum device 15 is ionized, and the electric resistance of the ionized portion is reduced. Therefore, a path having a small electric resistance is formed along the optical path of the laser light 12 between the laser light incident portion of the vacuum device 15 and the workpiece 10.

In this state, the electric discharge machining power source 3 operates based on a command from the tuning control device 6 to apply a machining voltage to the wire electrode 7 supplied from the electrode supply device 2. This ignition causes discharge from the tip 8 of the wire electrode 7 toward the grounded workpiece 10, and this discharge is guided along the optical path of the laser beam 12 in the vacuum device 15 in which the electric resistance is lowered. To be done. In this way, the electric discharge machining is guided by the laser beam to apply the machining to the machining site of the workpiece.

[0012]

According to the electric discharge machining method and the device electrode of the present invention, it is not necessary to machine the shape, and therefore the machining can be performed quickly, the machining can be performed at a low cost, and the electric discharge position can be freely selected. It is possible to control the processing shape with a laser without moving the electrode or the workpiece, and therefore, it is possible to perform processing with a high degree of freedom.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory view showing an electric discharge machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the principle of a conventional electric discharge machining method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Electric Discharge Machining Device 2 Electrode Supplying Device 3 Electric Discharge Machining Power Supply 4 Laser Light Generation Device 5 Laser Light Control Device 6 Tuning Control Device 7 Wire Electrode 8 Tip 10 Workpiece 11 Gap 12 Laser Light 13 Prism 14 Driving Device 15 Vacuum Device 107 Machining electrode

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electric discharge machining method, characterized in that laser light is generated in the direction of a path to be discharged to induce electric discharge. 2. An electric discharge machining power supply, an electrode supply device for supplying a discharge electrode, a laser light generator for generating laser light, and a laser light controller for controlling the direction of laser light generated by the laser light generator. And a tuning control device for controlling tuning of the electric discharge machining power supply, the laser light generator, and the laser light controller.