ELECTRIC DESCHARGE MACHINING CENTER

摘要

PURPOSE: To facilitate the automatic exchange of electrodes by providing a means for transferring an exchange electrode from or to one of a plurality of programmable tool holders and a means for transferring an exchange electrode to the servo head of an electrical discharge device. CONSTITUTION: For electrode exchange, a tool pot 86 holding an empty tool holder 56 is moved by a carrier 54 to the electrode exchange position where an electrode 32 is transferred from a cartridge 44 by a strip assembly 58 and is placed and clamped in the tool holder 56. A selected cartridge assembly 44 next turns a drum assembly 46 for next electrode exchange. The tool holder 56 is returned to an empty electrode holder nest 74 of a carousel 50 by the tool carrier 54, where it is rotated into opposition to a tool carrier 52 so that a cylinder 122 retracts to receive the electrode to be mounted on a servo-driven head for exchange by a tool changer arm.