Abstract
The present paper deals with a Numerically Controlled Contouring Electric Discharge Machining (NC-CEDM) system which employs newly proposed wire frame electrodes. The basic principle of the proposed EDM is based on the concept of the curved-line-contact EDM, which makes possible to reduce the machining time and energy in comparison with the surface-contact-machining of the conventional EDM. To realize the concept of the curved-line-contact EDM, the shapes of the wire frame electrodes are divided into typical three types, which are L-type, U-type, and Profile-type. An automatic programming system, APSET-II, can calculate the tool paths and attitudes of these electrodes in the 21/2-dimensional space. To control the positions and attitudes of the wire frame electrodes in the 3-dimensional space with a six-axiscontrolled NC electric discharge machine, a new contouring-control-software, which uses a parametric representation method, is developed. From the results of experiments with the wire frame electrodes, the contouring-control-software, and a four-axis-controlled NC electric discharge machine, it is confirmed that the machining of the threedimensional-curved-surface can be made efficient by use of the NC-CEDM.
