Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of contour-machining a workpiece by axially transporting an electrode wire through the workpiece disposed between a pair of wire support/guide members while advancing the workpiece relative to the traveling axis of the electrode wire in a displacement plane substantially orthogonal to the traveling axis to electroerosively cut a groove progressively along a programmed closed-loop path of a predetermined contour whereby the workpiece is eventually severed into a central portion and a peripheral portion with respect to the contour-cut groove, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said workpiece and said wire support/guide members to enable the workpiece to move, relative to the traveling electrode wire, in a substantially vertical plane constituting said displacement plane and having a two-dimensional coordinate system; (b) arranging said programmed closed-loop path on the positioned workpiece in said coordinate system and dividing it into an upper path and a lower path; (c) threading said electrode wire through the positioned workpiece between the positioned wire support/guide members; and (d) relatively displacing the positioned workpiece and wire support/guide members to advance the threaded traveling electrode wire continuously along said programmed closed-loop path in said coordinate system, from a starting position at an intermediate location along said upper path downwardly along a portion of said upper path, then along said lower path throughout and finally along the remaining portion of said upper path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of contour-machining a workpiece by axially transporting an electrode wire through the workpiece disposed between a pair of wire support/guide members while advancing the workpiece relative to the traveling axis of the electrode wire in a displacement plane substantially orthogonal to the traveling axis to electroerosively cut a groove progressively along a programmed closed-loop path of a predetermined contour whereby the workpiece is eventually severed into a central portion and a peripheral portion with respect to the contour-cut groove, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning said workpiece and said wire support/guide members to enable the workpiece to move, relative to the traveling electrode wire, in a substantially vertical plane constituting said displacement plane and having a two-dimensional coordinate system; (b) arranging said programmed closed-loop path on the positioned workpiece in said coordinate system and dividing it into an upper path and a lower path; (c) threading said electrode wire through the positioned workpiece between the positioned wire support/guide members; and (d) relatively displacing the positioned workpiece and wire support/guide members to advance the threaded traveling electrode wire continuously along said programmed closed-loop path in said coordinate system, from a starting position at an intermediate location along said upper path downwardly along a portion of said upper path, then along said lower path throughout and finally along the remaining portion of said upper path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said electrode wire leaves said starting position substantially vertically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said electrode wire leaves said starting position nonvertically.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower paths are such that every point on said upper path lies vertically above said lower path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein in step (c) said electrode wire is threaded through a starting hole preformed in said workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 5 wherein said preformed starting hole is located proximal to said upper path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 6, further comprising the step of, prior to step (d), advancing said electrode wire from said starting hole along a straight line path to said starting position.