The invention relates to a method and a device for electrochemically processing a material, which contains a hard phase and a binder phase. The method comprises preparing an aqueous, alkaline, complexing-agent-containing electrolyte and bringing the material to be processed into contact at least in part with the electrolyte and with a current source. In order to electrochemically oxidize the material, a pulsed electrical current is delivered to the material by means of the current source, the pulse sequence of the delivered electrical current being adjusted to the amount of the binder phase in the material to be processed. By means of the method and by means of the device, it is also possible to process materials having a high content of binder phase in such a way that matter can be removed from the material evenly (homogeneously), i.e. both from the hard phase and from the binder phase of the material.

The production of a device for holding one or more electrodes for electrical discharge machining, comprising a body having a rectilinear portion in which at least one first duct is provided for the passage of one or more electrode(s). The body further has an integral curved portion in which (at least) one second curved dielectric fluid supply duct is provided and in which is provided a curved extension of said at least one first duct. The curved extension and the second curved duct are made of ceramic, with an inner mean roughness of: Ra<2 μm.

The production of a device for holding one or more electrodes for electrical discharge machining, comprising a body having a rectilinear portion in which at least one first duct is provided for the passage of one or more electrode(s). The body further has an integral curved portion in which (at least) one second curved dielectric fluid supply duct is provided and in which is provided a curved extension of said at least one first duct. The curved extension and the second curved duct are made of ceramic, with an inner mean roughness of: Ra<2 μm.

An electric discharge machine 1 incudes: a machining tank 11; a dirty fluid tank 13; a circulation pump 21; a filter unit 3 including a filter element 31 and a filter case 33; a fixing mechanism 5 fixing the filter unit; a clean fluid tank 15; and a fluid feeding pump 23. The fixing mechanism includes: a bracket 51 fixed in a predetermined position; a rotating member 53 rotatably connected to the bracket; a lever 6 having: a link 61 of which one end is connected to the rotating member, a nut 63 arranged on the other end of the link, and a rod 65 screwed with the nut; a locked member 55 fixed to the bracket and engaged with the rod; and a pressing member 7 of which one end is connected to the rotating member 53 and the other end presses the filter case.

An electric discharge machine 1 incudes: a machining tank 11; a dirty fluid tank 13; a circulation pump 21; a filter unit 3 including a filter element 31 and a filter case 33; a fixing mechanism 5 fixing the filter unit; a clean fluid tank 15; and a fluid feeding pump 23. The fixing mechanism includes: a bracket 51 fixed in a predetermined position; a rotating member 53 rotatably connected to the bracket; a lever 6 having: a link 61 of which one end is connected to the rotating member, a nut 63 arranged on the other end of the link, and a rod 65 screwed with the nut; a locked member 55 fixed to the bracket and engaged with the rod; and a pressing member 7 of which one end is connected to the rotating member 53 and the other end presses the filter case.

An electric discharge machining unit capable of stably supplying working fluid to the vicinity of a portion to be machined. The electric discharge machining unit includes a tool electrode, a housing, an electrode guide, and a working fluid supplying device. The housing includes a fitting hole having a tapered surface. A first supply path is formed in the housing. The electrode guide includes a tapered portion and an ejection opening formed on a lower surface. A first flow path is formed in the electrode guide. The tapered portion is configured to be fitted into the fitting hole to connect the first flow path to the first supply path. The working fluid supplied from the working fluid supplying device to the first supply path and the first flow path is ejected from the ejection opening.

An opening machining apparatus for a heat transfer tube, a method of machining an opening in a tube wall of a heat transfer tube using the same apparatus, and a method of removing a foreign material through the same opening are provided. The opening machining apparatus for the heat transfer tube includes an electric discharge machining device inserted into the heat transfer tube and configured to form an opening in a tube wall of the heat transfer tube through an electric discharge machining, an electric discharge machining device driving device connected to the electric discharge machining device and configured to transport the electric discharge machining device, an electric discharge machining device driving device connected to the electric discharge machining device and configured to provide force for bringing the electric discharge machining device into close contact with a tube wall surface of the heat transfer tube, and an electric discharge machining device rotation device configured to provide force for rotating the electric discharge machining device in a circumferential direction of the heat transfer tube in the heat transfer tube.

An opening machining apparatus for a heat transfer tube, a method of machining an opening in a tube wall of a heat transfer tube using the same apparatus, and a method of removing a foreign material through the same opening are provided. The opening machining apparatus for the heat transfer tube includes an electric discharge machining device inserted into the heat transfer tube and configured to form an opening in a tube wall of the heat transfer tube through an electric discharge machining, an electric discharge machining device driving device connected to the electric discharge machining device and configured to transport the electric discharge machining device, an electric discharge machining device driving device connected to the electric discharge machining device and configured to provide force for bringing the electric discharge machining device into close contact with a tube wall surface of the heat transfer tube, and an electric discharge machining device rotation device configured to provide force for rotating the electric discharge machining device in a circumferential direction of the heat transfer tube in the heat transfer tube.

Electrical discharge machining apparatus comprising: a first housing defining an aperture for receiving a dielectric fluid; a resilient member defining one or more apertures for receiving one or more electrodes therein; and a second housing defining one or more apertures for receiving the one or more electrodes, and a surface to cause compression of the resilient member to hold the one or more electrodes when the first housing and the second housing are brought together.

Electrical discharge machining apparatus comprising: a first housing defining an aperture for receiving a dielectric fluid; a resilient member defining one or more apertures for receiving one or more electrodes therein; and a second housing defining one or more apertures for receiving the one or more electrodes, and a surface to cause compression of the resilient member to hold the one or more electrodes when the first housing and the second housing are brought together.