William O Farris

US Patent:

6489582, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Oct 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/685261

Inventors:

Lawrence Joseph Roedl - West Chester OH
James Tu Dang - Crestview Hills KY
William David Farris - Union KY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23H 100

US Classification:

219 6917

Abstract:

A workpiece is electrodischarge machined using a machining apparatus having a workpiece holder, an electrode holder having an electrode mounted thereto, and a power supply providing an electrical voltage and current. The workpiece is mounted in the workpiece holder, and the electrode is positioned adjacent to a machining location of the workpiece. The method further includes furnishing a source of a flow of conditioned water, directing the flow of conditioned water from the source into the machining location of the workpiece, without submerging the machining location in a liquid, and applying a voltage from the power supply such that an electrical current flows between the workpiece and the electrode holder so that metal is removed from the workpiece into the flow of conditioned water.