Method and electrode for electrochemically processing a workpiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764403-B2
Application number	US-201113639674-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2011
Priority date	Apr 8, 2010
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A method for electrochemically processing a workpiece surface using an electrode, which has at least one effective surface for processing the workpiece surface, and using an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is suctioned away from the effective surface. The invention further relates to an electrode, which has at least one electrolyte feed for supplying the electrolyte to the effective area and an electrolyte suctioning system for suctioning the electrolyte away from the effective area.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for electrochemically machining a workpiece comprising:
processing a workpiece surface using an electrode having a first active surface and a separate second active surface for processing two workpiece surfaces and using an electrolyte, the first and the second active surfaces having two independently controllable electrolyte feeds and suctions; and
suctioning the electrolyte off the first and second active surfaces.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising feeding the electrolyte in at a center of the first active surface, the suctioning off occurring at an edge area of the first active surface.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the electrolyte passes through the electrode all the way to the first active surface and is then suctioned off the first active surface through the electrode.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the following steps:
a) positioning the electrode across from the workpiece surface to be machined,
b) switching on an electrolyte circuit comprising a first electrolyte feed and a first electrolyte suction of the electrolyte feeds and suctions in order to define the first active surface,
c) applying a cathode voltage and moving the electrode in an advancing direction,
d) machining the workpiece surface to a desired contour,
e) switching off the cathode voltage, halting the advancing movement and switching off the electrolyte flow,
f) switching off the first electrolyte suction as soon as the machined workpiece surface is dry, and
g) repeating steps a) to f) to process further workpiece surfaces until all workpiece surfaces to be machined have been processed, whereby the advancing direction and the active surface change as a function of the workpiece surface and further workpiece surfaces to be machined.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the electrolyte feeds and the electrolyte suctions comprise a plurality of channels.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the first active surface has a perforated surface structure in fluid communication with the channels.

7. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the first active surface has a porous surface structure in fluid communication with the channels.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a plurality of electrode segments are each provided with the first and second active surfaces.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising at least one insulating layer electrically insulating the segments from each other.

Assignees

• Bayer Erwin
• Huttner Roland
• Mtu Aero Engines Gmbh

Inventors

• Bayer Erwin
• Huttner Roland

Classifications

• B23H3/10

  Supply or regeneration of working media · CPC title

• B23H3/04 Primary

  Electrodes specially adapted therefor or their manufacture (B23H9/00 takes precedence) · CPC title