Method and apparatus for electrolytically assisting the mechanical shaping of a workpiece
US5045161A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 17, 1990 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23H3/10
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for electrolytically assisting the mechanical shaping of a workpiece is provided which is particularly useful for precision machining. A tool is used comprising an electrically conductive (copper alloy) tool shank, a cutting tool of an electrically insulating material (reinforced ceramic), and means for flooding a gap, between the tool shank and the localized electrically conductive surface layer to be shaped, with a stream of electrolyte. With the electrolyte flowing, and a low voltage, direct current applied across the gap using the localized, electrically conductive surface layer as the anode and the tool shank as the cathode, the structure of the localized, electrically conductive surface layer of the workpiece just ahead of the tool is weakened structurally sufficiently to be removed easily by the cutting tool in discrete form and carried away from the tool by the stream of electrolyte. The structural weakening of the surface layer, rather than electrolytic removal thereof, is obtained by using an appropriate d.c. current only for a sufficient length of time for the surface layer to be structurally weakened.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.