A wire electrical discharge machine for performing electrical discharge machining on a workpiece to be machined by applying voltage to an electrode gap formed between a wire electrode and the workpiece to generate electrical discharge at the electrode gap under predetermined machining conditions while conveying the wire electrode along a transfer path, includes: a wire breakage detector for detecting a breakage of the wire electrode; a position calculator for calculating the breakage position of the wire electrode in the transfer path; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the machining conditions when the breakage position is in a predetermined section of the transfer path.

A wire electrical discharge machine includes: a voltage application unit for repeatedly applying a voltage to an electrode gap between the workpiece and the wire electrode at a predetermined cycle; a switching element connected in parallel with the electrode gap and configured to short-circuit the electrode gap; and a control section for controlling the switching element so as to short-circuit the electrode gap in a pause period during which the voltage is not applied. The control section adjusts a short-circuiting period in which the electrode gap is short-circuited according to the machining shape specified by a machining program.

A wire electrical discharge machine controls a second motor unit including motors for feeding a wire electrode in a wire running direction in which the wire electrode extends, so as to feed the wire electrode at a set feed rate during a machining period from a first time point at which the wire electrode moving relative to a workpiece in a direction intersecting the wire running direction is estimated to enter the workpiece, to a second time point at which the wire electrode is estimated to exit the workpiece. The second motor unit is controlled so as to feed the wire electrode at a feed rate lower than the set feed rate during at least one of a first non-machining period from a processing start time point to the first time point and a second non-machining period from the second time point to a processing end time point.

A wire electrical discharge machine includes: a drive controller configured to periodically apply voltage pulses between a workpiece and a wire electrode while relatively moving the wire electrode relative to the workpiece according to a machining program and a machining condition; a code analyzer configured to analyze the presence or absence of a condition change code for changing the machining condition in the machining program; and a condition changer configured to change the machining condition in accordance with a ratio indicated in the condition change code when the condition change code is present.

A wire electrical discharge machine includes: a travelling route formed of multiple divisional regions, through which a wire electrode is fed by an auto wire feeding mechanism; and a memory storing failure evaluation reference data on the auto wire feeding for every divisional region. The wire electrical discharge machine detects failure of the auto wire feeding and locate the tip position of the wire electrode at the time of failure and causes a controller to determine whether to perform or stop retry of the auto wire feeding based on the located tip position and the failure evaluation reference data for every divisional region.

A device for the electrochemical processing of a metal workpiece, including a plurality of electrodes that by way of respective linear drive units are movable in a linear manner relative to the workpiece from an initial position to a terminal position, the electrodes having a reproduction face that is directed toward the workpiece, wherein at least three electrodes are provided, the electrodes being disposed so as to be offset around the circumference of the workpiece and by way of the reproduction faces of the electrodes during the entire readjustment movement from the initial position to the terminal position engaging across one another in portions so as to be in contact, and by way of the reproduction faces of the electrodes delimiting a fluid duct that in a closed manner encircles the circumference of the workpiece.

A method for electroerosion machining includes providing an electrode assembly comprising an electrode body having a tube-shaped body that defines a hollow interior and one or more inserts affixed to the electrode body to form a cutting surface on the electrode assembly, positioning the electrode assembly adjacent a workpiece to be machined, and providing power to the electrode assembly so as to energize the electrode assembly, with the electrode assembly and the workpiece being at opposite electrical polarities. The method also includes advancing the electrode assembly through the workpiece, with a working gap being maintained between the inserts and the workpiece across which a pulse electric current is passed to remove material from the workpiece, wherein, upon advancing the electrode assembly through the workpiece, a core is formed that is completely separated from a remainder of the workpiece and is contained within the hollow interior of the electrode body.

The present invention relates to a method for the production of drill holes in difficult to machine materials, in which a removal of material takes place in order to produce a drill hole by electrochemical erosion of material by an electrode that is moved in the longitudinal direction of the drill hole being produced in the direction onto the material to be processed at a feed rate, wherein the drilling has at least two steps, wherein, in the first step, the electrochemical processing takes place, and wherein, in a second step, the further processing of the drill hole to the final diameter takes place by machining processing or by erosion or by an electrochemical processing.

A wire electrical discharge machine for performing electrical discharge machining on a workpiece to be machined by applying voltage to an electrode gap formed between a wire electrode and the workpiece to generate electrical discharge at the electrode gap under predetermined machining conditions while conveying the wire electrode along a transfer path, includes: a wire breakage detector for detecting a breakage of the wire electrode; a position calculator for calculating the breakage position of the wire electrode in the transfer path; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the machining conditions when the breakage position is in a predetermined section of the transfer path.

A method of manufacturing sharp bodies by wire electro-erosion includes providing a wire electro-erosion machine and a fixture mounted to the wire electro-erosion machine so that a portion thereof can rotate about a rotation axis which is transverse to a longitudinal extension of the cutting wire. At least one workpiece is mounted to the fixture. An edge to be sharpened of the at least one workpiece is sharpened by a sharpening through cut with the cutting wire on the at least one workpiece. The at least one workpiece is shaped by a shaping through cut with the cutting wire on the at least one workpiece. Between the sharpening and shaping, the portion of the fixture is rotated about the rotation axis thereof by a sharpening rotation angle other than 90?. The sharp bodies may be blades for a surgical cutting instrument for robotic microsurgery.