Spark erosion electrode with cleaning fluid distributor - fitted along non-active area producing curtain flow over active area

摘要

The electrode assembly is used to shape, or form a cavity in a workpiece by spark erosion. The spark discharge results from opposite charges maintained at the suitably contoured electrode and the workpiece respectively. The area of the electrode which does not act on the workpiece is provided with an element for distributing a cleaning fluid. The element has an inlet through which the fluid is supplied and one or more outlets which are connected to the inlet and so positioned that they produce a curtain of fluid flowing towards the active portion of the electrode over its full width. Particulate erosion products are remoVed from the space between the electrode and the walls of a cavity in a workpiece during spark erosion. Simpler and cheaper cleaning is achieved without causing accumulation of erosion products at the lower edge, resulting in local erosion of electrode material at the lower ends of the bores, bridging, and irregular formation of the cavity.