JPH02279221A - Wire electrode exchange device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the structure of an exchange apparatus for wire electrode by providing one wire electrode running system for feeding a wire electrode drawn out from a bobbin to an electric discharge machining portion. CONSTITUTION:The end portion of a wire electrode 20 drawn out from an exchange bobbin 2 is clamped by a clamp means 7 provided in a wire electrode running system. Secondly, a wire electrode 20 for exchange is joined to a used wire electrode 20 by joining means 24. After this joining, a wire electrode 20 drawn out from a bobbin 1 is cut by a cutter 10 disposed upstream from the joining means 24 to complete a joining work for the wire electrode 20.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a wire electrode changing device in a wire electrical discharge machine that generates electrical discharge between a workpiece and a wire electrode and processes the workpiece using discharge energy. [Prior Art] -a. Currently, wire electric discharge machines machine workpieces using the portion where the wire electrode runs vertically, in other words, in the vertical direction. The wire guide is guided by various rollers such as a tension roller and a brake roller in an automatic wire supply device, and is supplied to a wire head having the wire guide with appropriate tension applied thereto. On the other hand, the work table on which the workpiece is attached moves in the X direction and Y direction according to the machining status of the workpiece according to commands from the NC device, and both movements are combined and the wire electrode supplied to the wire head is During the machining, the wire tpi and the work table repeat servo movement, and the workpiece is electrically discharge-machined into a predetermined machining shape by the relative movement of the two. Recently, regarding wire electrical discharge machines, machining of large workpieces,
Processing such as progressive die processing and unmanned processing through automation is increasing. When performing such wire electrical discharge machining,
Currently used wire 'IJLI! A situation occurs in which the capacity of the wire electrode is insufficient on the bobbin on which the wire is wound. Therefore, if there is no running wire electrode during electric discharge machining, a situation occurs in which machining is interrupted. To solve this situation, a wire electrode replacement device is provided that automatically replaces the wire electrode when the wire electrode runs out. An apparatus is disclosed. The wire electrode exchange device is provided with two bobbins, and in order to feed the wire electrodes unwound from the bobbins to the electrical discharge machining site, the wire electrode exchanger is composed of a tension generating means, a wire supply means, a wire guide means, a pipe guide, etc. It is equipped with two running systems. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned wire electrode exchange device is provided with two wire electrode running systems, and there is a problem that the structure itself is complicated and the cost is high. Therefore, how can we configure a wire electrode changing device that has a simple structure and is easy to operate, can reduce costs, can automate wire electrode changing, and can continuously perform unmanned wire electrical discharge machining? Kano i1! There was a problem. The purpose of this invention is to solve the above problems,
When electrical discharge machining a workpiece with a wire electrode in a wire electrical discharge machine, when the wire electrode runs out, it can be automatically replaced with a replacement wire electrode in one wire electrode running system. Even if the wire electrode that is fed out from one bobbin runs out during processing such as progressive processing, the wire electrode can be replaced with a new wire electrode and processing can be continued continuously.The structure of the exchange device itself is simple and easy to operate. To provide a wire electrode changing device which is simple and can reduce manufacturing cost, automate wire electrode changing, and continuously perform unmanned wire electric discharge machining. [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, the present invention provides a wire electrical discharge machining apparatus that generates electrical discharge between a workpiece and a wire electrode and uses electrical discharge energy to electrically discharge the workpiece, and in which the wire electrode is moved to feed the wire electrode unwound from the bobbin to the electrical discharge machining site. The system includes a clamping means for clamping the end of the wire electrode fed out from the replacement bobbin, an electrode joining means for joining the replacement wire electrode to the wire 1i in use, and a clamping means disposed upstream of the electrode joining means. The present invention also relates to a wire electrode exchange device provided with a cutter for cutting the wire electrode that is fed out from the bobbin after the wire electrodes are joined. Further, in this wire electrode exchange device, the clamping means and the electrode joining means are arranged on a carriage for moving a replacement wire electrode so as to intersect with the wire electrode in use. Furthermore, this wire electrode exchange device is provided with a cutter for cutting the welded portion where the running wire 'W1 pole and the replacement wire electrode are joined, and a discharge means for removing the wire electrode welded portion from the wire electrode running system. It is something. [Function] The wire electrode exchange device according to the present invention is constructed as described above, and functions as follows. That is, the present invention provides a wire electrode running system that feeds the wire electrode paid out from the bobbin to the electrical discharge machining site, a clamping means for clamping the end of the wire electrode paid out from the replacement bobbin, and a wire electrode that is used for replacement attached to the wire electrode being used. Since the electrode joining means for joining the wire electrodes and the cutter disposed upstream of the electrode joining means and for cutting the wire electrode on the side that is pulled out from the bobbin after the wire electrode joining are provided, it is easy to replace the wire electrodes. Only one wire electrode running system is required, and the structure can be configured extremely simply.Moreover, the wire electrode exchange device can be installed upstream of the tension device, and the wire electrode joining operation can be reliably achieved. (Embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the wire electrode exchange device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a wire electric discharge machine incorporating the wire electrode exchange device according to the present invention. This wire electric discharge machine is constructed by applying tension to the wire electrode 20 using a tension device 8 disposed in a wire electrode running system consisting of an automatic wire supply device.
The workpiece 16 is electrically discharge-machined by running the electric discharge machine, generating electric discharge between the workpiece 16 and the wire electrode 20 at the electric discharge machining site, and using electric discharge energy. In this wire electric discharge machine, a workpiece 16 to be subjected to electric discharge machining is fixedly placed on a work table by suitable ramp means. An upper wire head and a lower wire head are attached to a Z-axis head (not shown) constituting the automatic wire feeding device. A lower guide 15, a jet nozzle for spraying machining fluid onto the workpiece 16, and the like are incorporated. The head is also provided with a pipe guide 13 for guiding the wire electrode 2o to the upper guide 14 and inserting it into a start hole formed in the workpiece 16. Furthermore, the head is provided with a shape that allows the workpiece 16 to be machined when the wire electrical discharge machining of one machining shape on the workpiece 16 is completed.
In order to perform electrical discharge machining on a new electrical discharge machining part or a machined shape on another workpiece, a pair of cutters 10 that cut the wire electrode 20 and a discharging claw 11 that is a discharging means for discharging the cut wire electrode 20 are first used. It is provided. Further, the ejection claw 11 of the wire electrode 20 is used to replace the wire electrode 20 with the replacement wire electrode 20 by the wire electrode replacement device.
The function is to remove the welded part 24 from the wire electrode running system so that the welded part 24 does not affect the machining accuracy of the workpiece [6] when the welded part 24 is welded to the workpiece. In this wire electric discharge machine, a workpiece 16 is installed on a work table, and the work table is configured to be movable in the horizontal direction, that is, in the X direction and in the X direction. That is, the work table on which the workpiece 16 is attached is N
It is configured to move in the X direction and X direction according to the machining status of the workpiece 16 according to instructions from the C device, and machining progresses between it and the wire electrode 20 supplied to the upper guide 14. Further, the wire electric discharge machine has an upper wire head and a lower wire head for the workpiece I6, and an upper nozzle and a lower nozzle that are machining l&jet nozzles attached to these wire heads. This wire electric discharge machine has a wire electrode running system for the wire electrode 20 that is provided with an automatic wire feeding device for feeding the wire electrode 20 to the electric discharge machining site. The wire electrode running system of this automatic wire feeding device includes a bobbin 1 that accommodates a wire electrode 20 and lets out the wire electrode 20, and a potentiometer 3 that detects the remaining amount of the wire electrode 20 that is paid out from the bobbin 1. However, when the wire electrode 20 is removed, a replacement bobbin 2 is provided which can be activated immediately to feed out a replacement wire 11420.Furthermore, this wire electrode running system includes various rollers, for example, A feed roller 9°12 that guides the wire electrode 20 to the electrical discharge machining site, a tension roller 19 that constitutes the tension device 8 that applies a predetermined tensile force to the wire electrode 20, and a brake roller that applies a predetermined braking force to the wire electrode 20. 2!, a direction changing roller 17.1B that changes the direction of the wire electrode 20, a pressing roller 4 that smoothly feeds out and holds the wire electrode 20, or other various rollers arranged to pull out and discharge the wire electrode 2o. Although not shown, the wire electrode running system includes a wire electrode disconnection detection sensor for detecting the feeding state of the wire electrode 20. , which is incorporated into the wire electrical discharge machine configured as above,
In particular, it is characterized in that it consists of a single wire electrode running system, and that a replacement device is installed upstream of the tension device 8 of the wire electrode running system. This wire electrode exchange device includes a bobbin 1 that serves as a main bobbin for feeding out wire 1tffi20, and a replacement bobbin 2 that serves as an auxiliary bobbin.
is provided. For bobbin 1 and replacement bobbin 2,
It can be set by sequentially replacing various wound wire electrodes 20, and the bobbin 1 and the replacement bobbin 2
When loading the wire electric discharge machine into the wire electric discharge machine, it is also possible to select the bobbin 1 and the replacement bobbin 2 on which the optimum wire electric i2Q is wound up according to the machining shape of the workpiece 16 and incorporate them into the automatic wire feeding device. It is possible. Further, the bobbin 1 and the replacement bobbin 2 are rotatably supported for feeding out the wire electrode 20 itself, and can apply a slight braking force to the wire electrode 20. In the wire electrode running system that sends the wire electrode 20 fed out from the bobbin 1 to the electrical discharge machining site, a clamp is located upstream of the tension device 8 and is a clamping means that clamps the end of the wire electrode 20 fed out from the replacement bobbin 2. Claw 7 and bobbin

A feeder 6 is disposed as a bridge joining means for joining a replacement wire electrode 20 fed out from a replacement bobbin 2 to a used wire electrode 20 fed out from the replacement bobbin 2. Furthermore, the clamp claw 7 and the feeder 6 are used to attach the wire electrode 20 for replacement when replacing the wire electrode 20.
The wire electrode 20 is disposed on a reciprocating table 22, which is a reciprocating means for moving the wire electrode 20 so as to intersect with the wire electrode 20 in motion. The carriage 22 performs an operation to replace the wire electrode 20 in response to a detection signal from the potentiometer 3 that detects the remaining amount of the wire electrode 20 of the bobbin 1 indicating that the remaining amount of the wire 11i20 is gone. As shown by the chain line, move to the wire electrode running system. The feeder 6 is the carriage 2
2 brings the replacement wire electrode 20 and the running wire electrode 20 into cross-contact with each other, so that current is supplied to the electric circuit 23 and operates to weld the wire electrode 20. Further, on the upstream side of the carriage 22 in the wire electrode running system, a replacement wire electrode 20 is welded to the running wire electrode 20 by the feeder 6 to join the wire electrode 20, and then the wire electrode 20 is fed out from the bobbin 1. A cutter 5 is provided to cut the side wire electrode 20. Also, although not shown, bobbin 1 and replacement bobbin 2
The present invention is not limited to two bobbins, but may be configured such that a large number of bobbins are rotated in one direction on an endless track and the bobbins are replaced one after another. Wire electrode 2 fed out from this bobbin 1 or replacement bobbin 2
0, the wire electrode 20 is smoothly fed out by rollers such as a feed roller and direction changing rollers 17 and 18. In the wire running system of the wire electrode 20, a pressing roller is provided with respect to the brake roller 21 so that the wire electrode 20 does not come off from the brake roller 21. In addition, the wire electrode running system of the wire electrode 20 includes:
Although not shown, a pinch roller and a press roller that can sandwich the wire electrode 20 and pull it out at a constant speed are disposed downstream of the lower wire head in order to pull out the wire electrode 20 from the wire electrical discharge machining site. . The wire electrode exchange device according to the present invention is constructed as described above.Next, an example of the operation of the wire electrode exchange device according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the operation flow diagram shown in FIG. In the operation of this wire electrode alternating F14 device, it is first assumed that the workpiece 16 is being subjected to wire electric discharge machining by the wire electrode 20 fed out from the bobbin 1 in a wire electric discharge machine in the conventional wire electric discharge machining operation. . At this time, the wire electrode 20 fed out from the replacement bobbin 2 passes through the press roller 4, and the end portion of the wire electrode 20 is clamped by the clamp claw 7. The potentiometer 3 measures how much wire electrode 20 that is unwound from the bobbin 1 remains on the bobbin l, and inputs the detection signal to the controller (step 30
), when the potentiometer 3 detects that the remaining amount of the wire electrode 20 unwound from the bobbin 1 is low, that is, it is almost completely gone (step 3), the controller responds to the detection signal to remove the wire from the replacement bobbin 2. In order to replace the wire electrode 20 that is being paid out, a command is issued to operate the carriage 22.As a result, the feeding of the wire electrode 20 is temporarily interrupted, and the press roller 4 on the bobbin 1 side and the press roller 4 on the replacement bobbin z side are activated. is operated to hold the wire electrodes 20 that are paid out from each bobbin 1.2.Therefore, the carriage 22 is operated and the carriage 22 is moved to the position shown by the chain line in the figure (step 32), and the wire Wire electrode 2 unwound from bobbin 1 using electrode running system
The wire electrode 20 fed out from the replacement bobbin 2 comes into contact with the wire electrode 0 in a crossed state (step 33).
. fim to the electric circuit 23 according to commands from the controller.
is flown and the feeder 6 is activated (step 34), and the intersecting contact area between the replacement wire ti 20 and the wire electrode 20 in use is welded. Then, when welding of the wire electrode 20 is achieved (step 34) 35) In response to a command from the controller, the cutter 5 disposed upstream of the carriage 22 in the wire electrode running system is activated to weld the wire electrode 20 that has been fed out from the bobbin 1 and is held between the presser rollers 4. [Bobbin close to part 24] Cutting is performed at the example location (step 36). At this time, the clamp claw 7 and the feeder 6 that were holding the wire electrode 20 are released, and then the clamp claw 7 and the feeder 6 are cut. The mounted carriage 22 is returned to its original position (step 37). Next, the wire electrode 2 is paid out from the replacement bobbin 2.
The wire electrode 20 that has been replaced with 0 is sent to the feed roller 9 through the tensilan device 8 (step 38).
, a welded part position sensor 2 that detects that the welded part 24 of the wire electrode 20 has reached a position between a pair of cutters 10 and 10 arranged between the feed roller 9 and the feed roller 12.
5 is provided. A detection signal from the welding part position sensor 25 indicating that the welding part 24 is located between the canter 10 and the cutter 10 is input to the controller (step 39
), the feeding of the wire electrode 20 is temporarily stopped (step 40). When the feeding of the wire electrode 20 is stopped, the controller causes the pair of cutters 10 .
When the welded part 24 of the pole 20 is cut off from the wire by the operation of the cutter 10, the ejection claw 11 of the welded part 24 is actuated to remove the cut welded part 24. Containing wire 'tliii20
is grasped by the discharge claw 11 and discharged to a suitable wire electrode reservoir (not shown) (step 42). At this time, the wire electrode 20 downstream of the cutter 10 located below continues to be a wire. The wire electrode 20 is discharged to a wire electrode reservoir that accommodates the worn out wire electrode 20 by a pinch roller and a press roller that can pinch the wire electrode 20 and pull it out at a constant speed through the electrical discharge machining area. The discharging claw 11 returns to its original position after discharging the wire electrode 20 including the cut-off welded portion 24 (step 4).
3). After the discharge claw 11 returns to its original position, the replacement wire electrode 20 is run along the wire electrode running system (step 44), and the leading edge of the wire electrode 20 is moved to the pipe guide 13.
At the same time, the vibe guide 13 is lowered to face the upper guide 14. Next, the wire electrode 20 is sent out to penetrate the start hole formed in the workpiece 16 or the machining hole at the electric discharge machining location (step 45), and as in the conventional case, the wire electrode 20 is inserted into the workpiece 16. Electric discharge machining is performed (step 46). [Effects of the Invention] The wire electrode exchange device according to the present invention is configured as described above, and has the following effects. That is, the present invention provides a wire electrical discharge machining apparatus that generates electrical discharge between a workpiece and a wire electrode and uses electrical discharge energy to electrically discharge the workpiece, and in which the wire electrode is moved to feed the wire electrode unwound from the bobbin to the electrical discharge machining site. The system includes a clamp means for clamping the end of the wire electrode reservoir fed out from the replacement bobbin, an electrode joining means for joining the replacement wire electrode to the wire electrode in use, and a clamping means disposed upstream of the electrode joining means. In addition, since a canter is provided to cut the wire electrode that is fed out from the bobbin after the wire electrodes are joined, only one wire bridge running system is required to replace the wire electrodes, making the structure extremely simple. A wire electrode exchange device can be installed upstream of the tension device, and the wire electrode joining operation can be reliably achieved. Moreover, the wire electrical discharge machine equipped with the wire electrode exchange device according to the present invention has the following advantages compared to the conventional wire electrical discharge machine:
The amount of machining can be greatly increased, machining of large workpieces and progressive machining can be achieved continuously, and wire electrical discharge machining can be performed automatically and continuously in an unmanned state. Therefore, the wire electric discharge machine can be operated at night, and the wire electric discharge machine can be operated extremely effectively and efficiently. Furthermore, as bobbins and replacement bobbins, it is possible to use wound wire electrodes of various wire diameters, and when used in conjunction with groove guides, automatic guide exchange devices, etc. It is also possible to perform electrical discharge machining of machined shapes with different slit widths.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a wire electric discharge machine incorporating a wire electrode exchange device according to the present invention, and a second
The figure is an operational flow diagram showing one embodiment of the operation of the wire electrode exchange device according to the present invention.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a wire electrical discharge machining device that generates electrical discharge between a workpiece and a wire electrode and electrically discharges the workpiece using electrical discharge energy, the wire electrode running system that feeds the wire electrode unwound from the bobbin to the electrical discharge machining area is A clamp means for clamping the end of the wire electrode fed out from the replacement bobbin, an electrode joining means for joining the replacement wire electrode to the wire electrode in use, and a wire electrode joining means disposed upstream of the electrode joining means. A wire electrode exchange device provided with a cutter for cutting the wire electrode that is later fed out from the bobbin. (2) The wire electrode exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping means and the electrode joining means are arranged in reciprocating means for moving the replacement wire electrode so as to cross it with respect to the wire electrode in use. . (3) The wire electrode according to claim 1, further comprising a cutter for cutting the welded part where the wire electrode in use and the replacement wire electrode are joined, and a discharge means for removing the welded part of the wire electrode from the wire electrode running system. Exchange device.