Patent ID: 8409423

Claim:
A method for machining workpieces, comprising providing a machining electrode which is guided at a specified operating distance to a workpiece, providing an electrolyte between the workpiece and the machining electrode, providing an operating current flowing between the machining electrode and the workpiece, which operating current results from an operating voltage (U A ), which is produced at the machining electrode in relation to the workpiece, which workpiece is connected to ground, the operating voltage (U A ) being applied in such a way that the operating current is a DC current or a pulsed DC current, superimposing a measuring voltage (U M ) on the operating voltage (U A ), detecting a measuring current resulting from the superimposing of the measuring voltage (U M ), determining a distance between the machining electrode and the workpiece from a relationship between the measuring voltage (U M ) and the measuring current.