A control device includes a speed setting unit configured to set a relative movement speed of a wire electrode with respect to a workpiece depending on the average of gap voltage per unit time, i.e., average gap voltage, and set the relative movement speed so as to move the wire electrode backward when the average gap voltage is less than a threshold, and a map compensation unit configured to change the threshold from a first threshold that is set when the amount of change in the average gap voltage is lower than a predetermined variation, to a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold, when the average gap voltage has changed in a decreasing direction and the amount of change in the average gap voltage becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined variation.

A power supply device for wire electric discharge machining includes: a first DC power supply; first switching elements between the first DC power supply and a machining gap; a second DC power supply; a second switching element between the second DC power supply and the machining gap; and a pulse generator controlling the first and second switching elements. The pulse generator is configured so that, in order to generate an electric discharge in the machining gap, the second switching element is switched on and the voltage of the second DC power supply is applied to the machining gap; the first switching element is switched on intermittently at a predetermined frequency in response to an electric discharge generation detection signal, and a series of current pulses is fed to the machining gap. The feeding of the series of current pulses is discontinued when the current pulses don't reach a reference current.

A power supply device for wire electric discharge machining includes: a first DC power supply; first switching elements between the first DC power supply and a machining gap; a second DC power supply; a second switching element between the second DC power supply and the machining gap; and a pulse generator controlling the first and second switching elements. The pulse generator is configured so that, in order to generate an electric discharge in the machining gap, the second switching element is switched on and the voltage of the second DC power supply is applied to the machining gap; the first switching element is switched on intermittently at a predetermined frequency in response to an electric discharge generation detection signal, and a series of current pulses is fed to the machining gap. The feeding of the series of current pulses is discontinued when the current pulses don't reach a reference current.

A wire electrical discharge machine for machining a workpiece by generating electric discharge at a discharge gap between the workpiece and a wire electrode includes: a machining current setting unit for setting the magnitude of a normal machining current depending on the discharge gap state at application of a discharge induction voltage at the previous time or previous times; and a machining current control unit configured to control a main discharge circuit so as to supply the normal machining current to the discharge gap when the present discharge gap state is the normal state, control the main discharge circuit so as to supply a short-circuit machining current smaller than a predetermined current to the gap when the discharge gap state is the short-circuited state, and control the main discharge circuit so as not to supply any machining current to the gap when the discharge gap state is the open state.

A wire electrical discharge machine includes: an electrode unit for supplying a machining current to an electrode gap; a switch for changing impedance between a machining power source and the electrode unit; and a controller for, at the time of a core retaining process, controlling the switch to set the impedance to be higher than the impedance in a cutting process and thereby suppressing the machining current flowing through the electrode gap.

A wire electrical discharge machine includes: an electrode unit for supplying a machining current to an electrode gap; a switch for changing impedance between a machining power source and the electrode unit; and a controller for, at the time of a core retaining process, controlling the switch to set the impedance to be higher than the impedance in a cutting process and thereby suppressing the machining current flowing through the electrode gap.

A program generating apparatus for generating an NC program for controlling a wire electrical discharge machine includes a machining order acquisition unit configured to acquire order in which a plurality of machining paths should be machined, the order being determined based on a predetermined rule, and a program generating unit configured to automatically change the order acquired by the machining order acquisition unit, so as to perform fixing process for fixing a core, which is produced during machining of a workpiece, to the workpiece by depositing a component of a wire electrode, prior to performing uncut process for leaving part of the core uncut, and generate an NC program for machining the machining paths in the changed order.

A wire electrical discharge machine includes: a gap voltage detector for detecting a voltage across an electrode gap; a first voltage control unit for applying a first voltage to the electrode gap; a discharge determiner for determining whether or not the electrode gap is in a discharging state during application of the first voltage; and a second voltage control unit for supplying a machining current through the electrode gap when the electrode gap is in a discharging state. After a supply of the machining current to the electrode gap, even when a discharge is induced by the next application of the first voltage to the electrode gap, the second voltage control unit prohibits application of a second voltage to the electrode gap.

A wire electrical discharge machine includes: a gap voltage detector for detecting a voltage across an electrode gap; a first voltage control unit for applying a first voltage to the electrode gap; a discharge determiner for determining whether or not the electrode gap is in a discharging state during application of the first voltage; and a second voltage control unit for supplying a machining current through the electrode gap when the electrode gap is in a discharging state. After a supply of the machining current to the electrode gap, even when a discharge is induced by the next application of the first voltage to the electrode gap, the second voltage control unit prohibits application of a second voltage to the electrode gap.

A cable includes: a linear conductor; a plurality of resin hollow tubes which are disposed around the conductor so that an air layer is formed around the conductor and which extend in a longitudinal direction of the conductor; an insulating protective member configured to protect the conductor and the plurality of hollow tube; and a partitioning portion provided in at least one hollow tube among the plurality of hollow tubes, the partitioning portion being configured to partition an interior of the hollow tube.