Patent · US Expired

Electrochemical machining tool assembly and method of monitoring electrochemical machining

US6968290B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
6References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 27, 2001
Grant dateNov 22, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 27, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B17/02
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electrochemical machining tool assembly includes first and second tools that are spaced apart from one another so that a workpiece can be located therebetween. The assembly also includes a first ultrasonic transducer mounted in the first tool and a second ultrasonic transducer mounted in the second tool. The electrochemical machining process is monitored by generating ultrasonic waves with the first and second ultrasonic transducers, and then detecting the arrival times, at the first and second ultrasonic transducers, of certain reflections of the ultrasonic waves. The detected arrival times are then used to calculate parameters such as the gap sizes between the first and second tools and a workpiece situated therebetween and the thickness of the workpiece.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.