Electrode for electrochemical machining, method of electrochemic

Details Electrode for electrochemical machining, method of electrochemic Electrode for electrochemical machining, method of electrochemic

1997-10-21

1999-03-16

Gorgos, Kathryn

Chemistry: electrical and wave energy

Apparatus

Electrolytic

205640, 205645, C25B 1100

Patent

active

058824910

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is a national phase filing of international application number PCT/NL 96/00001, filed Jan. 2, 1996.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrode for electrochemical machining, said electrode comprising a plurality of electrode segments, said electrode segments being separated from each other and having a electrically non-insulating end for facing a metal piece to be electrochemically machined, the electrode segments being separated from each other by an electrically insulating layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such an electrode is known from the German patent application DE 1.515.195. FIGS. 3 and 4 show an electrode comprising electrode segments, each electrode segment being connected to a power source. The current through each electrode segment can be controlled independently from the other electrode segments. The electrode segments have a rectangular cross-section.


BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an electrode which allows for controlled and flexible electrochemical machining resulting in a smooth curvature of the metal piece with a limited number of electrode segments.
To this end, the electrode according to the present invention is characterized in that the intersection of the insulating layer and the non-insulated end of the electrode segment is, over at least part of its length, inclined to the nearest side walls of the electrode.
Such an electrode allows the application of different voltages to different electrode segments relative to the metal piece to be machined resulting in a smoothly electrochemically machined metal piece with a limited number of electrode segments.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,909 describes an electrode for electrochemical machining wherein said electrode comprises a plurality of electrode segments without an electrically insulating layer between the electrode segments.
The present invention also relates to a method of electrochemical machining of a metal piece using an electrode comprising a plurality of electrode segments, wherein different current densities are applied to each of the electrode segments of the electrode, depending on the amount of material to be removed at a particular site of the metal piece facing a corresponding non-insulated end of the electrode segment.
This method is characterized in that an electrode, according to the present invention is used wherein the intersection of the insulating layer and the non-insulated end of the electrode segment is, over at least part of its length, inclined to the direction in which the electrode and the metal piece move relatively to each other.
Thus, the method according to the present invention provides for an electrochemical machining process resulting in a metal piece having a smoothly curved surface.
Finally, the present invention relates to a method of measuring the profile of a metal piece, being characterized in that an electrode comprising a plurality of electrode segments according to the present invention is put above the surface of the metal piece, forming a gap which is filled with an electrically conducting fluid, and the resistance over the gap is measured for each of the segments.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be elucidated with the aid of the drawing, illustrating the invention by way of example.
FIG. 1 is a cross section of an electrode according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the electrode and half of a cylindrical rotating body.
FIG. 3 shows the current density as experienced by cylindrical rotating body of FIG. 2.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an electrode 1 for electrochemical machining, which electrode comprises electrode segments 2' to 2" which are separated on the sides of the electrode segments by an electrically insulating layer 3' to 3"'. The electrode 1 is covered with an electrically insulating layer, leaving the end of each electrode segment free of electrically insulating m

REFERENCES:
patent: 4541909 (1985-09-01), Fromson

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