Method and apparatus for electrochemically machining rotating parts

Abstract

Abstract A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTROCHEMICALLY MACHINING WORKPIECES TO FORM SURFACES OF REVOLUTION TO PRECISE SHAPES AND DIMENSIONS INCLUDES MEANS ROTATING THE WORKPIECE ON A PAIR OF SHOES ENGAGING THE SURFACE OF THE WORKPIECE BEING MACHINED. AN ELECTROCHEMICAL MACHINING TOOL IS POSITIONED SO THAT ITS ESSENTIALLY FLAT FRONTAL SURFACE IS NORMAL TO A LINE FROM SAID TOOL TO THE CENTER OF THE WORKPIECE WHEN THE WORKPIECE HAS BEEN MACHINED TO ITS DESIRED DIMENSION. A HIGH VELOCITY FLOW OF ELECTROLYTE IS FORCED BETWEEN THE TOOL AND THE WORKPIECE AND A HIGH DENSITY FLOW OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT, APPROSIMATELY 6000 AMPERES PER SQUARE INCH, REMOVES MATERIAL ANODICALLY FROM THE WORKPIECE AS IT ROTATES PAST THE TOOL TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH SURFACE FINISH. THE RATE AT WHICH THE TOOL IS FED TOWARD THE WORKPIECE ESTABLISHES A STEADY STATE CONDITION THEREBY KEEPING THE GAP DISTANCE CONSTANT, AND THUS THE CURRENT DENSITY AT A HIGH SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT LEVEL. THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT IS REDUCED TO A PREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE, BETWEEN 1500 AND 3000 AMPERES PER SQUARE INCH, PRIOR TO TERMINATING THE MACHINING OPERATION TO PROVIDE A BRIGHT, OXIDE FREE SURFACE FINISH.

Inventors

• 👤 William Andrew Haggerty

Bibliographic Details