Machining time estimating device for electric discharge machining operation

Claim 1

A machining time estimating device for an electric discharge machining apparatus operable in one or more machining steps comprising: means for inputting data for a plurality of machining state parameters, each parameter being related to a machining period of time required for machining to be estimated, said data including data representing at least one of an area and volume to be machined; a machining state storing section having a plurality of independent memory units which store respective ones of said inputted machining state parameter data; means for calculating an ideal machining time from at least one of said stored machining state parameter data; a knowledge memory means storing a plurality of methods of modifying, according to respective ones of said parameter data stored in said machining state storing section, the ideal machining time calculated by said ideal machining time calculating means; and an inference means for processing at least one of said parameter data which have been stored in said machining state storing means, in accordance with a respective one of said plurality of modifying method, to obtain an amount of correction for the machining time, said inference means further operating to estimate a machining period of time based on said ideal machining time and said correction amount.