This narrow-hole electric discharge machine (100), which performs electric discharge machining by relatively moving a narrow-hole electrode (28) attached to a main spindle (114) and a workpiece (130) attached to a table (118), comprises: a positioning guide (16) which is attached to a guide arm (142) below the main spindle, through which the narrow-hole electrode is inserted such that a lower portion of the narrow-hole electrode is movable in the direction of an axis line (CL0), and which supports the narrow-hole electrode; and a power feeder (10) which is provided at a predetermined position directly above the positioning guide of the guide arm, comes into direct contact with the narrow-hole electrode movable in the axis line direction and feeds power to the narrow-hole electrode, wherein the distance from a power feed position to the tip of the positioning guide is constant regardless of the length of the narrow-hole electrode.

An estimation method and a control device for a wire electrical discharge machine, for estimating whether a wire electrode has disconnected on the basis of information obtained from a motor included in a feed mechanism of the wire electrode. The control device is provided with a roller for feeding a wire electrode in a direction of feeding out, and a motor for causing the roller to rotate. The control device includes: an acquisition unit for acquiring a value for a disturbance load based on a drive current of the motor, a value for the rotational speed of the motor, and/or a value for a torque command for causing the motor to rotate at a commanded speed determined in advance; and an estimation unit for estimating whether the wire electrode has disconnected on the basis of the disturbance load, the rotational speed, and/or the torque command acquired by the acquisition unit.

A wire disconnection prediction device includes: a data acquisition part configured to acquire data relating to machining of a workpiece in a state where a wire is not disconnected during machining of the workpiece by a wire electric discharge machine; a preprocessing part configured to create, machining condition data of a condition relating to a machining condition commanded in machining of the workpiece, machining member data relating to a member used in the machining, and machining state data during machining of the workpiece, as state data indicating a state of the machining; and a learning part configured to generate, based on the state data created by the preprocessing part, a learning model indicating correlation between the state data and the state where the wire of the wire electric discharge machine is not disconnected.

A wire electric discharge machining apparatus includes a wire electrode and upper and lower guide devices guiding the wire electrode, and includes: a power conductor moving in a first direction as a horizontal axis direction and supplying power by contacting the wire electrode; and a fixing device fixing the power conductor in the lower guide device and switchable between a fixed state, in which a movement of the power conductor relative to the lower guide device in a second direction as another horizontal axis direction orthogonal to the first direction is not possible, and a non-fixed state in which such relative movement is possible. The wire electric discharge machining apparatus includes: a pressing device, movable relative to the lower guide device and pressing the power conductor in the non-fixed state to move in the second direction; and a movement device, moving the pressing device relative to the lower guide device.

An electro-hydraulic combined device is provided. The insulator is fixedly connected with a spindle shell; a top end of the electro-hydraulic joint supply base is fixedly connected with the insulator; a connection port of the working fluid pipe and a binding post are arranged on the electro-hydraulic joint supply base; a bottom end of the electro-hydraulic joint supply base is provided with a terminal connection port; the connection port of the working fluid supplying pipe and the terminal connection port communicate with a fluid channel in the electro-hydraulic joint supply base; when the terminal connection port is snap-engaged with a top end of the terminal of electro-hydraulic joint supply pipes, the fluid channel in the electro-hydraulic joint supply base is communicated with a fluid channel in the terminal; the fluid channel in the terminal is further communicated with a flushing fluid container on an electrode shank for electro machining.

An electro-hydraulic joint supplying system for electrical machining and supporting automatic tool changing includes an electro-hydraulic joint supplying device and a clamping device. The electro-hydraulic joint supplying device includes an insulator, an electro-hydraulic joint supplying base, an electro-hydraulic joint supplying pipe terminal, and an electro-hydraulic joint supplying pipe. The base is fixedly connected with a spindle shell through the insulator. A working fluid pipe connector and a wiring post are arranged on the base; a terminal connector is in a snap-fit with a top end of the electro-hydraulic joint supplying pipe terminal. The pipe terminal communicates with a flushing fluid container in an electrical machining electrode shank through an electro-hydraulic joint supplying pipe. The clamping device includes a first clamping mechanism, a second clamping mechanism, and a cooperation mechanism fixedly connected with the first clamping mechanism or the second clamping mechanism to circumferentially limit the flushing fluid container.

A system and method for more consistent joule heating of a material blank to a desired temperature. An electrical terminal delivers a current to an end portion of the blank. The terminal has a heat sink effect which would otherwise prevent the end portion from reaching the desired temperature. An active thermal buffer element is interposed between the terminal and the end portion. The buffer element includes a first surface which abuts the end portion and a second surface which abuts the terminal. The buffer element is joule heated with the blank, and a temperature gradient is created across the buffer element such that the first surface is at the desired temperature and the second surface is at a lower temperature due to the heat sink effect of the terminal. The buffer element thereby compensates for the heat sink effect and allows the end portion to reach the desired temperature.

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 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.