Electrical discharge shape forming and surface conditioning device

Claim 1

Improved apparatus for electric discharge machining the surface of an electrically conductive generally cylindrical workpiece wherein said workpiece is mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis for cooperation with an electrode that moves over the surface and including means for directing a dielectric fluid flow in the gap between the electrode and workpiece, said electrode providing an electric discharge therefrom to the roll form surface to alter the surface condition into a desired form, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a cylindrical electrode having a rotational axis; means for mounting the electrode for rotation about the rotational axis, said means for mounting also including means for aligning the rotational axis generally parallel to the workpiece longitudinal axis, so as to maintain the cylindrical electrode surface generally parallel to an increment of the workpiece surface; gap means for defining a gap between the electrode and the workpiece surface, said gap being located on a line generally perpendicular to the axes and connecting the axes; means for providing electric current for discharge from the cylindrical electrode; means for rotating the cylindrical electrode about its axis; means for moving the cylindrical electrode transversely along the longitudinal axis; said gap means including sensor means for detecting the magnitude of the gap, and means for adjusting the magnitude of said gap, said means for adjusting including platform means for supporting the electrode and means for moving the platform means in response to the sensor means toward or away from the surface; and means for supporting the cylindrical workpiece, said means for supporting including a workpiece support station affixed to a workpiece platform, said station including first and second roller bearing members, each member mounted on a bracket, said brackets being pivotally mounted to accommodate the workpiece.