METHOD FOR ELECTRIC DISCHARGE MACHINING OF A WORKPIECE AND CORRESPONDING APPARATUS

A method and apparatus for wire cutting electric discharge machining to achieve precise surfaces with R.sub.a <0.1 microns. An intermittent operation is used with erosion pulses for primarily machining and erosion pulses for measuring any excursion of the wire electrode from the rest position. An evaluation unit is used to determine any excursions of the wire electrode from the rest position that might have been present during the preceding machining time, and a controller controls the machining process so that the wire electrode is practically straight during electroerosion.