An improved method of cutting a workpiece to form a desired contour therein with a continuous wire electrode axially advanced to linearly traverse the workpiece across a cutting zone and also displaced relative to the workpiece transversely to the axis of the wire electrode. The method comprises the steps of (a) electroerosively rough-cutting the workpiece while effecting the transverse relative displacement along a first predetermined path corresponding to the desired contour and defined to generate a rough-cut contour with an overcut in the workpiece, and (b) electroerosively finish-cutting the workpiece while effecting the transverse relative displacement along a second predetermined path shifted by a distance n uniformly from the first predetermined path where n is a value proportional to the thickness of the workpiece traversed by the wire electrode, thereby generating a finish-cut contour coinciding with the desired contour in the workpiece.
展开▼