Jump control system for an electric discharge machine

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A jump control system for an electric discharge machine having a discharge state, comprising: first control means for performing fuzzy control to set a jump period and a jump distance to optimum values based on the discharge state of the electric discharge machine; and second control means for controlling movement of an electrode relative to a workpiece in response to the jump period and the jump distance.
2.
A jump control system for an electric discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein said first control means comprises means for performing a plurality of fuzzy rules and membership functions previously stored as a data base and selectable depending on a type of machining.
3.
A jump control system for an electric discharge machine according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for providing the discharge state including a time-based rate of change by digitizing a waveform of a gap voltage between said electrode of the electric discharge machine and said workpiece.
4.
A jump control system for an electric discharge machine according to claim 2, further comprising detecting means for determining the discharge state based on at least one of a waveform of a gap voltage of the electric discharge machine and a waveform of a discharge current of the electric discharge machine.
5.
A jump control system for an electric discharge machine according to claim 2, further comprising detecting means for determining the discharge state by a fuzzy inference based on at least one of a gap voltage and a discharge current.
6.
A jump control method, comprising the steps of: (a) determining a discharge state of an electric discharge machine; (b) performing fuzzy control based on the discharge state to determine a jump period and a jump distance; and (c) controlling movement of an electrode relative to a workpiece in response to the jump period and the jump distance in said step (b).
7.
A jump control method according to claim 6, wherein said method further comprises the step of (d) selecting a type of machining; and wherein said step (b) comprises the substep of (b1) performing fuzzy control using at least one of a plurality of fuzzy rules and membership functions dependent on the type of machining selected in said step (d)