A method of manufacturing a jointed device of a medical instrument includes providing a machining fixture on a wire electrical discharge machine having an electrical discharge wire.

The fixture includes member holes each adapted to accommodate at least one workpiece, the workpiece being adapted to form a portion of the jointed device of the medical instrument. At least two workpieces each include a first workpiece and a second workpiece, accommodated within at least two member holes of the member holes. The fixture is associated with the wire electrical discharge machine so that the electrical discharge wire can cut at most one workpiece at a time. The machining fixture is rotated around a fixture rotation axis at a predetermined angle, which is chosen to provide that the electrical discharge wire can cut only one workpiece at a time. The workpieces are cut by the electrical discharge wire.

A method of manufacturing a jointed device of a medical instrument includes providing a machining fixture on a wire electrical discharge machine having an electrical discharge wire. The fixture includes member holes each adapted to accommodate at least one workpiece, the workpiece being adapted to form a portion of the jointed device of the medical instrument. At least two workpieces each include a first workpiece and a second workpiece, accommodated within at least two member holes of the member holes. The fixture is associated with the wire electrical discharge machine so that the electrical discharge wire can cut at most one workpiece at a time. The machining fixture is rotated around a fixture rotation axis at a predetermined angle, which is chosen to provide that the electrical discharge wire can cut only one workpiece at a time. The workpieces are cut by the electrical discharge wire.

A method of manufacturing a jointed device of a medical instrument includes providing a machining fixture on a wire electrical discharge machine having an electrical discharge wire. The fixture includes member holes each adapted to accommodate at least one workpiece, the workpiece being adapted to form a portion of the jointed device of the medical instrument. At least two workpieces each include a first workpiece and a second workpiece, accommodated within at least two member holes of the member holes. The fixture is associated with the wire electrical discharge machine so that the electrical discharge wire can cut at most one workpiece at a time. The machining fixture is rotated around a fixture rotation axis at a predetermined angle, which is chosen to provide that the electrical discharge wire can cut only one workpiece at a time. The workpieces are cut by the electrical discharge wire.

An electrostatic discharge machining fixture includes a fixture body, two or more electrically conductive face contacts seated in the fixture body, and two or more electrically resistive point contacts seated in the fixture body. The electrically conductive face contacts and the electrically resistive point contacts define a 3-2-1 alignment system to locate an additively manufactured article relative to the fixture body during an electrostatic discharge machining operation. Electrostatic discharge machining arrangements and methods of supporting additively manufactured workpieces during electrostatic discharge machining operations are also described.

An electrostatic discharge machining fixture includes a fixture body, two or more electrically conductive face contacts seated in the fixture body, and two or more electrically resistive point contacts seated in the fixture body. The electrically conductive face contacts and the electrically resistive point contacts define a 3-2-1 alignment system to locate an additively manufactured article relative to the fixture body during an electrostatic discharge machining operation. Electrostatic discharge machining arrangements and methods of supporting additively manufactured workpieces during electrostatic discharge machining operations are also described.

A compact lower guide unit that allows the electrode guide to be attached and detached more easily and reliably. Provided is a lower guide unit including a housing, an electrode guide, and a pull-up mechanism having a guide support, links, and a power cylinder. The guide support includes a biasing member and a displacement member. The biasing member can bias the displacement member, and the displacement member can be displaced between a restriction position and a release position. The links can be rotated by a force applied by the power cylinder. The electrode guide is fixed to the guide support by a biasing force of the biasing member when the displacement member is in the restriction position, and the electrode guide is released from the lower guide unit when the displacement member is displaced to the release position.

A method is provided for removing a fastener having a longitudinal shank from a workpiece using electro-discharge machining, EDM, the method comprising: contacting a portion of the fastener or workpiece with an EDM fixture, thereby: locating the EDM fixture and an EDM electrode relative to the fastener in a lateral direction; and establishing an electrical ground connection to the fastener via the EDM fixture; and eroding the fastener using the EDM electrode.

The invention refers to a chuck pallet (1.3) with solid groove-sidewalls (2.3) for clamping chucks (1.1), whereby the x-y-references (2.5) of the chuck pallet (1.3) are allocated in the same plane (2.1) as the z-references (2.1) and the x-y-references (2.5) are also allocated at the solid groove-sidewalls (2.3). The solid groove-sidewalls (2.3) have thereby a tapered profile.

Methods of repairing a part having a firtree-shaped feature requiring rework are disclosed. An embodiment of the method includes receiving the part having the firtree-shaped feature requiring rework. The part is installed in a machine configured for wire electrical discharge machining (EDM). A location of the firtree-shaped feature relative to a datum of the machine is then determined. Wire EDM is performed on the firtree-shaped feature.

Disclosed is an electrical discharge machining apparatus at least comprising a carrier platform and an electrical discharge machining unit. The carrier platform is used to carry at least one to-be-machined object. The electrical discharge machining unit comprises an electrode, a jig and a power supply unit. When the electrical discharge machining unit performs an electrical discharge machining procedure on a machined target area of the to-be-machined object along a machining direction, an electrical discharge section of the electrode and the machined target area of the to-be-machined object move relatively. The invention is capable of improving a machining procedure, saving an overall machining time and saving a time required for electrode replacement.