General Electric Company
Machining apparatus and machining system

Abstract:

A machining apparatus includes a curved outer conduit, a curved rotary electrode and a driving motor. The outer conduit has a cavity and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the cavity. The electrode includes a flexible shaft positioned in the cavity and having a first end and a second end, and a machining head having a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the cavity and electrically connected with the first end of the flexible shaft to be powered via the flexible shaft. The motor is mechanically coupled to the second end of the flexible shaft for driving the flexible shaft to rotate. A machining system includes the machining apparatus, a power supply for powering the flexible shaft, an electrolyte supply for providing electrolyte to the fluid inlet and a machine tool onto which the outer conduit and the motor are positioned.