Traveling-wire electroerosion machining electrode and method

Claim 1

A traveling-wire electroerosion-machining electrode consisting of an elongated element having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 mm and formed with a rugged peripheral surface along a length thereof, which surface incorporates features intended when the electrode is in use in an electroerosion apparatus or method to facilitate the detachment from the machining surface of the electrode element of gaseous bubbles produced by decomposition of a machining liquid by a machining current, said surface features comprising projections and recesses formed on said surface and arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern, said projections and recesses having a size measured radially in a transverse cross-section of the electrode ranging from one fifth to one third of the thickness of said elongated element, said rugged peripheral surface being a surface of the contour of said elongated element produced by twisting a plurality of wires together.

Claim 9

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a continuous, elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.1 and 0.5 mm and being formed with a rugged peripheral surface along a length thereof; (b) axially displacing said elongated element continuously through a workpiece along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while causing gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece transversely to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with said rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface of said electrode element, said rugged peripheral surface comprising a multiplicity of spaced projections of an electrically conductive material added in a predetermined uniform, discrete pattern on said elongate element, said projections having a height ranging between one tenth and one third of the thickness of said elongate element.

Claim 10

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a continuous, elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.1 and 0.5 mm and being formed with a rugged peripheral surface along a length thereof; (b) axially displacing said elongated element continuously through a workpiece along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while causing gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece transversely to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with said rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface of said electrode element, said rugged peripheral surface comprising a multiplicity of spaced projections of an electrically conductive material added in a predetermined uniform, discrete pattern on said elongate element, said projections having a height ranging between one tenth and one third of the thickness of said elongate element.

Claim 12

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being prepared by twisting a plurality of wires and thereby formed with said rugged peripheral surface.

Claim 13

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being prepared by twisting a plurality of wires and thereby formed with said rugged peripheral surface.

Claim 14

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition and said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being prepared by weaving a plurality of wires and thereby formed with said rugged peripheral surface.

Claim 15

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition and said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being prepared by weaving a plurality of wires and thereby formed with said rugged peripheral surface.

Claim 16

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electoerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of chemical etching.

Claim 17

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electoerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of chemical etching.

Claim 18

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of electrochemical etching.

Claim 19

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of electrochemical etching.

Claim 20

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of the electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of sandblasting.

Claim 21

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of the electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of sandblasting.

Claim 22

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path aand said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of knurling.

Claim 23

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path aand said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of knurling.

Claim 24

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of power-spraying with plasma.

Claim 25

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of power-spraying with plasma.

Claim 26

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined ujiform pattern by means of power-atomizing.

Claim 27

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined ujiform pattern by means of power-atomizing.

Claim 28

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of sintering.

Claim 29

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid; (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of sintering.

Claim 30

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid: (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of drawing said wire through a rotary die to prepare said elongated element.

Claim 31

A method of electroerosively machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a traveling-wire machining electrode, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an elongated element having a thickness ranging between 0.05 and 0.5 mm; (b) axially displacing said elongated element along a predetermined path to form a traveling-wire machining electrode juxtaposed with said workpiece across a machining gap; (c) supplying a machining liquid to said gap; (d) passing a machining current between said electrode and said workpiece through said machining gap to electroerosively remove material from said workpiece, thereby machining the latter while permitting gaseous bubbles to be formed in the gap by electrical decomposition of said machining liquid which bubbles tend to be adherent on the machining surface of said electrode and thus act as a thermal insulator between said machining surface and said machining liquid: (e) relatively displacing said path and said workpiece to form a machined contour in the latter; and (f) promoting detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface by forming said elongated element with a rugged peripheral surface acting to facilitate detachment of said gaseous bubbles from said machining surface, said elongated element being formed of a wire having a diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, said rugged peripheral surface being produced by forming on the surface of said wire a multiplicity of projections and recesses arranged in a predetermined uniform pattern by means of drawing said wire through a rotary die to prepare said elongated element.