Method of manufacturing electrically conductive elements particularly EDM or ECM electrodes
US5461769A · kind A · utility
36Cited by
1References
8Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49986
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of manufacturing electrically conductive elements such as electrodes for EDM, ECM or other electromachining processes comprises the steps of designing a digital representation of the element, making a three-dimensional replica of the element from an intermediate material, e.g. a polymer, based on the digital representation, and coating the replica with a layer of a good electrical conductor. The replica is made using a tool-less prototyping process. The method is faster and less expensive than conventional machining of copper or graphite EDM or ECM electrodes, especially those having an intricate shape.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.