Patent ID: 6448529
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: B23H

Abstract:
An electric discharge machining apparatus comprising:a table for holding thereon a workpiece within dielectric; an X-direction moving stage and a Y-direction moving stage for moving the table to a given position in X and Y directions that are orthogonal to each other within a plane; a tool electrode arranged to be displaceable in a machining direction that is orthogonal to both of the X and Y directions for performing electric discharge between the tool electrode and the workpiece when brought to a position in close proximity to the workpiece; a position detecting element for detecting a current position of the tool electrode in relation to the workpiece; an operation circuit for calculating a next position to which the workpiece should be moved based on data regarding the current position of the tool electrode in relation to the workpiece obtained from the position detecting element, and predetermined machining data that are registered beforehand; and a drive control unit for controlling movement of the X-direction moving stage and the Y-direction moving stage based on operation results of the operation circuit, wherein the workpiece is automatically and continuously moved to a next position in the X and Y directions corresponding to the current position of the tool electrode in accordance with a machining shape.