Electroerosion machining systems and methods

Abstract

An electroerosion machining system comprises one or more electrodes configured to machine a workpiece, a power supply configured to energize the workpiece and the respective one or more electrodes, an electrolyte supply configured to pass an electrolyte, and a working apparatus configured to move the respective one or more electrodes relative to the workpiece. The electroerosion machining system further comprises a controller configured to control the working apparatus to machine the workpiece, and a removal agent configured to cooperate with the electrolyte from the electrolyte supply for removal of removed material from the workpiece. An electroerosion machining method is also presented.

1 . An electroerosion machining system, comprising:
 one or more electrodes configured to machine a workpiece;   a power supply configured to energize the workpiece and the respective one or more electrodes;   an electrolyte supply configured to pass an electrolyte between the workpiece and the respective one or more electrodes;   a working apparatus configured to move the respective one or more electrodes relative to the workpiece;   a controller configured to control the working apparatus to machine the workpiece; and   a removal agent configured to cooperate with the electrolyte from the electrolyte supply for removal of removed material from the workpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 1 , wherein the removal agent comprises one or more of aluminum oxide, carbides, nitrides, resins, diamond, garnet and nitrogen containing hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         3 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 2 , wherein the carbides comprise one or more of silicon carbide, tungsten carbide and boron carbide, the nitrides comprise cubic boron nitride, the resins comprise one or more of phenolic and polyimide; and the nitrogen containing hydrocarbons comprise amines. 
     
     
         4 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 1 , wherein the removal agent is dispersed into the electrolyte to pass between the workpiece and the respective one or more electrodes. 
     
     
         5 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 4 , further comprising a removal agent supply configured to provide the removal agent, and wherein the removal agent is in a form of solid particles. 
     
     
         6 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 4 , further comprising a nozzle configured to eject a mixture of the electrolyte and the removal agent to pass between the respective one or more electrodes and the workpiece. 
     
     
         7 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 1 , wherein the removal agent is disposed on the respective one or more electrodes. 
     
     
         8 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 7 , wherein the removal agent comprises a plurality of abrasive elements, and wherein the abrasive elements disposed on the same one electrode are disposed alternately around and protrude beyond the one electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 1 , further comprising a base assembled onto the working apparatus and configured to hold the one or more electrodes, and wherein more than one of the one or more electrodes are disposed on the base alternately. 
     
     
         10 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 9 , wherein the base defines a plurality of slots to hold the respective more than one electrode, a central hole in fluid communication with the electrolyte supply and a plurality of channels in fluid communication with the central hole and the respective slots. 
     
     
         11 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 9 , where the base has a wheel shape. 
     
     
         12 . The electroerosion machining system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprise wheel shapes. 
     
     
         13 . An electroerosion machining method, comprising:
 driving one or more electrodes to move relative to a workpiece;   passing an electric current between the respective one or more electrodes and the workpiece while passing an electrolyte from an electrolyte supply through a gap defined therebetween; and   introducing a removal agent between the respective one or more electrodes and the workpiece to cooperate with the electrolyte for removal of removed material from the workpiece out of the gap.   
     
     
         14 . The electroerosion machining method of  claim 13 , wherein the removal agent comprises one or more of aluminum oxide, carbides, nitrides, resins, diamond, garnet and nitrogen containing hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         15 . The electroerosion machining method of  claim 14 , wherein the carbides comprise one or more of silicon carbide, tungsten carbide and boron carbide, the nitrides comprise cubic boron nitride, the resins comprise one or more of phenolic and polyimide, and the nitrogen containing hydrocarbons comprise amines. 
     
     
         16 . The electroerosion machining method of  claim 13 , wherein the removal agent is mixed and dispersed into the electrolyte in a form of solid particles. 
     
     
         17 . The electroerosion machining method of  claim 13 , wherein the removal agent comprises a plurality of abrasive elements disposed on the respective one or more electrodes, and wherein the abrasive elements disposed on the same one electrode are disposed alternately around and protrude beyond the one electrode. 
     
     
         18 . The electroerosion machining method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes are held via a base, and wherein more than one of the one or more electrodes are disposed on the base alternately. 
     
     
         19 . The electroerosion machining method of  claim 18 , wherein the base defines a plurality of slots to hold the respective more than one electrode, a central hole in fluid communication with the electrolyte supply and a plurality of channels in fluid communication with the central hole and the respective slots. 
     
     
         20 . The electroerosion machining method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprise wheel shapes.