Process for checking and adjusting the operation of an electro-erosion machining apparatus

Claim 2

Method for monitoring and adjusting the operation of an electro-erosion machining apparatus, said apparatus comprising an electrical pulse generator for applying to a work gap between an electrode tool and a workpiece a series of electrical pulses causing electrical discharges to occur through said work gap immersed in an appropriate fluid, said method comprising: monitOring at least a pair of selected machining conditions comprising presence or absence of abnormal electrical discharges and presence or absence of excessive fluid contamination until monitoring detects the presence of at least one abnormal condition; initiating a sequence of predetermined correction programs each correction program comprising a series of progressive increments for correcting the conditions observed during said monitoring and said sequence comprising the step of: increasing the flow of fluid to said work gap, increasing the time lapse between consecutive pulses, and increasing the work gap between the electrode tool and the workpiece; repeating said monitoring; and initiating after each monitoring step each of said correction programs until monitoring indicates the absence of defects in both selected conditions of operation.

Claim 3

Method according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for periodically momentarily retracting the electrode tool, said method further comprising the step of: controlling the electrode tool retraction so as to decrease the ratio of the duration of machining periods to the duration of non-machining periods, said non-machining periods corresponding to the momentary retractions of said electrode tool.

Claim 4

Method for monitoring and adjusting the operation of an electro-erosion machining apparatus, said apparatus comprising an electrical pulse generator for applying to a work gap between an electrode tool and a workpiece a series of electrical pusles causing electrical discharges to occur through said work gap immersed in an appropriate fluid, said method comprising: monitoring at least a pair of selected machining conditions comprising presence or absence of abnormal electrical discharges and presence or absence of short circuits at the work gap until monitoring detects the presence of at least one abnormal condition; initiating a sequence of predetermined correction programs, each correction program comprising a series of progressive increments for correcting the conditions observed during said monitoring and said sequence comprising the steps of: increasing the flow of fluid to said work gap, increasing the time lapse between consecutive pulses, and increasing the work gap between the electrode tool and the workpiece; repeating said monitoring; and initiating after each monitoring step each of said correction programs until monitoring indicates the absence of defects in both selected conditions of operation.

Claim 5

Method for monitoring and adjusting the operation of an electro-erosion machining apparatus, said apparatus comprising an electrical pulse generator for applying to a work gap between an electrode tool and a workpiece a series of electrical pusles causing electrical discharges to occur through said work gap immersed in an appropriate fluid, said method comprising: monitoring at least a pair of selected machining conditions comprising presence or absence of abnormal electrical discharges and presence or absence of short circuits at the work gap until monitoring detects the presence of at least one abnormal condition; initiating a sequence of predetermined correction programs, each correction program comprising a series of progressive increments for correcting the conditions observed during said monitoring and said sequence comprising the steps of: increasing the flow of fluid to said work gap, increasing the time lapse between consecutive pulses, and increasing the work gap between the electrode tool and the workpiece; repeating said monitoring; and initiating after each monitoring step each of said correction programs until monitoring indicates the absence of defects in both selected conditions of operation.

Claim 6

Method according to claim 3 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for periodically momentarily retracting the electrode tool, said method further comprising the step of: controlling the electrode tool retraction so as to decrease the ratio of the duration of machining periods to the duration of non-machining periods, said non-machining periods corresponding to the momentary retractions of said electrode tool.

Claim 7

Method for monitoring and adjusting the operation of an electro-erosion machining apparatus, said apparatus comprising an electrical pulse generator for applying to a work gap between an electrode tool and a workpiece a series of electrical pulses causing electrical discharges to occur through said work gap immersed in an appropriate fluid, said method comprising: monitoring at least a pair of selected machining conditions comprising presence or absence of excessive fluid contamination and presence or absence of short circuits at the work gap until monitoring detects the presence of at least one abnormal condition; initiating a sequence of predetermined correction programs, each correction program comprising a series of progressive increments for correcting the conditions observed during said monitoring and said sequence comprising the steps of: increasing the flow of fluid to said work gap, increasing the time lapse between consecutive pulses, and increasing the work gap between the eLectrode tool and the workpiece; repeating said monitoring; and initiating after each monitoring step each of said correction programs until monitoring indicates the absence of defects in both selected conditions of operation.

Claim 8

Method for monitoring and adjusting the operation of an electro-erosion machining apparatus, said apparatus comprising an electrical pulse generator for applying to a work gap between an electrode tool and a workpiece a series of electrical pulses causing electrical discharges to occur through said work gap immersed in an appropriate fluid, said method comprising: monitoring at least a pair of selected machining conditions comprising presence or absence of excessive fluid contamination and presence or absence of short circuits at the work gap until monitoring detects the presence of at least one abnormal condition; initiating a sequence of predetermined correction programs, each correction program comprising a series of progressive increments for correcting the conditions observed during said monitoring and said sequence comprising the steps of: increasing the flow of fluid to said work gap, increasing the time lapse between consecutive pulses, and increasing the work gap between the eLectrode tool and the workpiece; repeating said monitoring; and initiating after each monitoring step each of said correction programs until monitoring indicates the absence of defects in both selected conditions of operation.

Claim 9

Method according to claim 5 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for periodically momentarily retracting the electrode tool, said method further comprising the step of: controlling the electrode tool retraction so as to decrease the ratio of the duration of machining periods to the duration of non-machining periods, said non-machining periods corresponding to the momentary retractions of said electrode tool.

Claim 10

Method for monitoring and adjusting the operation of an electro-erosion machining apparatus, said apparatus comprising an electrical pulse generator for applying to a work gap between an electrode tool and a workpiece a series of electrical pulses causing electrical discharges to occur through said work gap immersed in an appropriate fluid, said method comprising: monitoring at least three selected machining conditions comprising presence or absence of abnormal electrical discharges, presence or absence of excessive fluid contamination, and presence or absence of short circuits at the work gap, and in the event of the absence of defects in the selected machining conditions further comprising initiating a program comprising the steps of: progressively decreasing by increments the time lapse duration between consecutive pulses until the appearance of at least one of the defects in the selected conditions of operation; increasing of one increment said time lapse duration for causing the disappearance of said defect; progressively decreasing by increments the work gap until the appearance of at least one of said defects; and increasing said work gap of the increment necessary to cause the disappearance of said defect.

Claim 11

Method for monitoring and adjusting the operation of an electro-erosion machining apparatus, said apparatus comprising an electrical pulse generator for applying to a work gap between an electrode tool and a workpiece a series of electrical pulses causing electrical discharges to occur through said work gap immersed in an appropriate fluid, said method comprising: monitoring at least three selected machining conditions comprising presence or absence of abnormal electrical discharges, presence or absence of excessive fluid contamination, and presence or absence of short circuits at the work gap, and in the event of the absence of defects in the selected machining conditions further comprising initiating a program comprising the steps of: progressively decreasing by increments the time lapse duration between consecutive pulses until the appearance of at least one of the defects in the selected conditions of operation; increasing of one increment said time lapse duration for causing the disappearance of said defect; progressively decreasing by increments the work gap until the appearance of at least one of said defects; and increasing said work gap of the increment necessary to cause the disappearance of said defect.

Claim 12

Method according to claim 7 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for periodically momentarily retracting the electrode tool, said method further comprising the step of: controlling the electrode tool retraction so as to increase by increments the ratio of the duration of machining periods to the duraction of the non-machining periods, said non-machining periods corresponding to the momentary retractions of said electrode tool.