Method and apparatus for the electrical machining of a workpiece

摘要

In combining electrical discharge machining (EDM) and electro-chemical machining (ECM) the use of a strong electrolyte has, in the invention, been found possible. A workpiece 10 in a tank 12 containing a strong electrolyte 13 is machined using an electrode 14. A pulse generator 17 applies an intermittent voltage between the electrode and the workpiece causing both EDM and ECM to take place. At the onset of arcing a discharge monitor 20 removes the voltage. A wire-cutting machine and method combining EDM and ECM are also described.