An apparatus for electrical discharge machining process is disclosed. The apparatus comprises adjustable supports, up-on which an elongated workpiece to be machined can be placed and rotated. The adjustable support allows to adjust the position of the workpiece with respect to a base plate. The apparatus further comprises a rotating member, adapted to grip one end of the elongated workpiece to be machined and rotate it around its longitudinal axis. Also disclosed are a method for machining rotor and a monolithic shaft-impeller rotor.

Methods and apparatuses are described herein for producing a rifling in a barrel of a gun. The barrel defines an axis in a longitudinal direction and comprises an inner wall that defines a bore extending in the longitudinal direction. A tool includes a tool head having an outer contour that corresponds to a shape of the rifling to be produced. The tool head consists of an electrically conductive material. The outer contour of the tool head and the inner wall of the barrel define a gap. An electrolyte solution is pumped through the gap while the tool is guided through the bore, and a pulsed electrical voltage is applied to the barrel and the tool. The barrel is the anode and the tool head is the cathode. The tool is moved through the bore and rotated about the longitudinal axis while the pulsed voltage is applied to produce the riflings.

A flexural pivot is disclosed. The flexural pivot can include a first flexure support member, a second flexure support member rotatably coupled to the first flexure support member for relative rotation about a first axis, and a third flexure support member rotatably coupled to the second flexure support member for relative rotation about a second axis. In addition the flexural pivot can include a plurality of cross blade flexures rotatably coupling the flexure support members to one another. Each cross blade flexure can have first and second flexible blade units that have flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration. The flexible blade units can have blade supports disposed at opposite ends of the flexible blades to facilitate coupling the flexible blade units to the flexure support members. The flexible blade and the blade supports of each flexible blade unit can form a monolithic structure.

The present invention concerns a method for producing riflings in barrels of guns including a barrel 6 as a workpiece 6 which defines an axis A in its longitudinal direction and which has a bore lying in the longitudinal direction which defines an inner wall of the barrel and a tool 8 comprising a tool head 10, which has an outer contour corresponding to the shape of the riflings to be produced, consisting of an electrically conductive material, wherein an electrolyte solution is pumped through the bore of the barrel 6, while the tool 8 is guided through the bore of the barrel 6, wherein a pulsed electrical voltage is applied to workpiece 6 and tool 8, with which a direct current is generated, the workpiece 6 being the anode and the tool head 10 being the cathode, the barrel 6 being positioned vertically with its longitudinal direction, wherein between the electrically conductive outer contour of the tool head 10 and the inner wall of the barrel 6 there is a gap surrounding the tool head 10, through which the electrolyte solution flows, and the tool 8 being moved relatively to the workpiece 6 through the bore of the barrel 6 during the application of the pulsed voltage and simultaneously rotated about the axis A, thereby producing the riflings on the inner wall of the bore, and means for carrying out the method.

A flexural pivot is disclosed. The flexural pivot can include a first flexure support member, a second flexure support member rotatably coupled to the first flexure support member for relative rotation about a first axis, and a third flexure support member rotatably coupled to the second flexure support member for relative rotation about a second axis. In addition the flexural pivot can include a plurality of cross blade flexures rotatably coupling the flexure support members to one another. Each cross blade flexure can have first and second flexible blade units that have flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration. The flexible blade units can have blade supports disposed at opposite ends of the flexible blades to facilitate coupling the flexible blade units to the flexure support members. The flexible blade and the blade supports of each flexible blade unit can form a monolithic structure.

Exposing nitinol to a shape setting temperature while the nitinol is in an unstrained or minimally strained condition. The nitinol is then substantially deformed in shape while at elevated temperature. After deformation, the nitinol remains at the elevated temperature for a time to shape set the material. The nitinol is then returned to approximately room temperature 20? C. by means of water quenching or air cooling for example.

An ECM method involves the use of a thin hollow electrode assembly that carries the electrolyte within and that is advanced relatively to the workpiece. The small profile of the electrode results in a minimal removal of metal in forming the desired rotor or stator shape. The electrode profile allows significant power consumption reduction or increased machining speed for a given rate of power input. The electrode can be a unitary ring shape or can be made of segments that are placed adjacent each other so that a continuous shape is cut. Not all the lobes of the stator or rotor have to be cut in the same pass. Electrode segments can be used to sequentially provide the desired lobe count in separate passes. The lobe shapes in the electrode can be slanted to get the desired rotor or stator pitch or they can be aligned with the workpiece axis.