Method and machine for cutting and extracting workpiece portions from a sheet-like material

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a processing machine (1) for cutting and removing at least one workpiece portion (20) from a sheet-like material (2), in particular a metal sheet, wherein at least one workpiece portion (20) is cut by means of a cutting beam (3) directed at the sheet-like material (2) and separated from the sheet-like material (2), wherein the at least one workpiece portion (20) is removed as a removal portion from the sheet-like material (2) as a remaining grid, wherein the severed workpiece portion (20) is lifted from a workpiece support plane (E) of the sheet-like material (2) by means of a lifting device (26) and removed by means of a gripping device (27), wherein at least one sacrificial portion (41) is severed from the sheet-like material (2) before the workpiece portion (20) is severed in the sheet-like material (2) or the remaining grid (22).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a machine for cutting and taking out workpiece portions from sheet-like material, in particular metal sheet material. BACKGROUND

[0002] WO 2015 / 17693 A1 discloses a method and a machine for cutting and taking out workpiece portions from sheet-like material, in particular metal sheet material. The machine comprises a workpiece support device for receiving a sheet-like workpiece. A machining head can be moved above the sheet-like workpiece, by means of which a cutting beam for cutting workpiece portions from the sheet-like workpiece is directed to the sheet-like material. After severing a workpiece portion as a taken-out portion from the sheet-like workpiece, the taken-out portion is lifted vertically upwards from a support plane formed by the workpiece support device by means of a lifting device. The lifting device contacts the taken-out portion from below by means of a lifting pin. On the opposite side, the lifted or lifted taken-out portion is received by a gripping device and transferred into an unloading station, a magazine or a further machining device.

[0003] Furthermore, WO 2017 / 202767 A1 discloses a method and a machine for cutting and taking out workpiece portions from sheet-like material, in particular metal sheet material. The machine comprises two workpiece support faces configured to each other to form a workpiece support device. Between the workpiece support faces a cutting gap for a cutting beam is formed, which is directed onto the sheet-like material by means of a machining head above the sheet-like workpiece to machine the sheet-like material. A support slide is arranged in the cutting gap, which is movable along the cutting gap. Thereby the position and / or the size of the opening can be adjusted, since the support slide can be moved independently of each other within the free space between the workpiece support faces configured to each other. Thus the size of the opening for being shot into the cutting beam can be adjustable. The pressing-out opening for the severed workpiece portion as a taken-out portion can also be adjusted by the support slide in order to move the taken-out portion downwards relative to the workpiece support device by means of a pressing-out device.

[0004] Furthermore, JP 2015-116 604 A discloses a method for manufacturing workpiece portions by means of a laser cutting beam. In this manufacturing method, a plurality of workpieces having a simple geometry are arranged directly next to each other and are efficiently cut in that the laser beam is first moved along a first spatial axis in order to simultaneously manufacture one end side of the plurality of workpieces by a travelling movement. The opposite end side is then manufactured by a similar travelling movement. Subsequently, the longitudinal sides of the workpieces and the waste pieces adjoining thereto are cut.

[0005] Especially when the thickness of the sheet material is relatively large and / or in the case of workpiece sections with complex or asymmetrical profiles, it becomes difficult to remove the cut workpiece section from the sheet material as the removal part, because the workpiece section flips or tilts after being cut and gets stuck by the remaining mesh. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The objective of this invention is to provide a method and machine for cutting and removing portions of a workpiece from a plate-shaped workpiece, particularly a sheet metal, wherein improved removal of cut portions of workpieces with complex profiles from the plate material enhances process reliability.

[0007] This task is solved by a method for cutting and removing a portion of a workpiece from a sheet material, wherein a sacrificial portion adjacent to the workpiece portion is cut before the workpiece portion is cut as the removal portion. This sacrificial portion partially shares a cutting gap with the workpiece portion, and the sacrificial portion is cut from the sheet material before the workpiece portion is cut from it. The method has the advantage that the sacrificial portion creates sufficient free space in at least one region of the complex contour of the workpiece portion to remove it from the remaining mesh without flipping or tilting. This, for example, facilitates pressing the removal portion downwards relative to a workpiece support by gravity or by means of a pressing element of a pressing device, and lifting the removal portion upwards relative to the remaining mesh by means of a lifting device. The sacrificial portion also releases the area adjacent to the removal portion, which is desirable, whereby the pressing element of the pressing device or the lifting pin of the lifting device can act on the workpiece portion. Because additional free space is created between the removal portion and the sheet-like workpiece or the remaining mesh, particularly in the region of the complex contour of the removal portion, tilting of the removal portion relative to the remaining mesh can also be reduced or eliminated, thus simplifying removal and thereby improving process reliability.

[0008] The term "sacrificial portion" should be understood here as the portion of the sheet material that is additionally cut to allow for the removal of the workpiece portion. The sacrificial portion is waste material; however, such waste material is not generated when cutting multiple sequentially arranged workpieces.

[0009] Preferably, the cut sacrificial portion is removed from the sheet material before the adjacent workpiece portion is cut off. Thus, the workpiece portion is connected to the sheet material at least by a strip joint or so-called Mikrojoint until the outer contour of the sacrificial portion is completely cut, after which the sacrificial portion is removed from the sheet material. Alternatively, both the cut sacrificial portion and the cut workpiece portion can be removed from the sheet material together. The sacrificial portion can be pressed out and removed from the sheet material by moving downwards (i.e., by dropping) or by pressing downwards using at least one press-out pin or by lifting upwards using at least one lifting device.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, at least one sacrificial part is cut adjacent to the complex contour of the workpiece part or at least partially around the complex contour of the workpiece part. Here, the sacrificial part has an outer contour which is as simple and straight as possible, which can be derived from the sheet-like material in a simple manner and can be cut quickly and with little heat input into the material. The sacrificial part creates a free space between the complex contours with respect to the sheet-like material in order to avoid tipping or tilting with respect to the sheet-like material.

[0011] Preferably, at least one sacrificial part is cut adjacent to the complex contour of the workpiece part, which is formed, for example, as an undercut, a hook-shaped contour or an angular region or an acute or obtuse angle.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the method, at least one sacrificial part is cut such that, after removal of the sacrificial part, a free space is formed in the sheet-like material for lifting or pressing out the removal part by means of a lifting device or a pressing-out pin. Here, the free space must be large enough for the lifting device or the pressing-out pin to be able to act on the removal part without coming into contact with the remaining grid. In the case of very narrow or delicate contours, in particular, which are smaller in one spatial direction than the diameter of the lifting pin or the pressing-out element, a free space in the remaining grid is created by the sacrificial part in order to allow the pressing out or lifting of the removal part.

[0013] Furthermore preferably, the sacrificial part is formed adjacent to the workpiece part or at least partially around the workpiece part as a straight cutting line or a convex envelope with respect to the complex contour. The complex contour can thus be surrounded by a simple outer contour which forms a part of the contour of the sacrificial part, wherein a further part of the contour of the sacrificial part corresponds to the complex contour of the workpiece part.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the cutting line between the sacrificial part and the sheet-like material is cut with a larger cutting gap than the common cutting line between the sacrificial part and the workpiece part. This makes it easier to remove the sacrificial part. A wider cutting gap can be achieved, for example, by using oxygen instead of nitrogen as cutting gas, by a larger focal diameter of the laser beam, by defocusing the laser beam or by a back-and-forth movement of the laser beam transversely to the cutting line.

[0015] Alternatively, in the case that the cutting line between the sacrificial portion and the sheet-like material does not form an edge common with the workpiece portion, an oblique cut can be made, wherein the orientation of the cutting beam with respect to the workpiece surface makes it easy to take the sacrificial portion out of the remaining grid upwards or downwards. Thus, for example, seen in a cross-sectional view, the sacrificial portion can have a lateral edge with a cutting edge that is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the sheet-like material and that faces the workpiece portion, and the sacrificial portion can have an oblique cutting edge that faces the remaining grid. If the face section that lies on the workpiece support device is larger than the face section that faces the machining head, the sacrificial portion is easy to drop down. If the face section that lies on the workpiece support device is smaller than the face section that faces the machining head, the sacrificial portion is easy to lift upwards.

[0016] The task of the present application is also solved by designing a machining machine for carrying out the described method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The present application and further advantageous embodiments and further aspects thereof are described and illustrated below by means of examples shown in the drawings. The features known from the description and the drawings can be used, both individually and in arbitrary combinations, in accordance with the application. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 a perspective view of a machining machine for cutting and taking out workpiece portions from a sheet-like material is shown,

[0019] Figure 2 a schematic view of a support slide arranged in a gap between two workpiece support faces, with a workpiece portion placed thereon is shown,

[0020] Figure 3 a schematic view of method steps during pressing out of a cut workpiece portion as a taken-out portion from a sheet-like material is shown,

[0021] Figure 4 a perspective view of a lifting device for a machining machine for taking out a cut workpiece portion from a sheet-like material according to Figure 1

[0022] Figure 5 a schematic side view of method steps for lifting a cut workpiece portion upwards with respect to a workpiece support device by means of a lifting device according to Figure 4

[0023] Figure 6 a schematic view of a workpiece portion and a sacrificial portion having a complex contour is shown,

[0024] Figure 7 a schematic cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI in Figure 6

[0025] ​​​Figure 8 Show Figure 7 A schematic cross-sectional view of the alternative implementation method.

[0026] Figure 9 A schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment with additional complex contours for the workpiece portion and the sacrificial portion, and...

[0027] Figure 10 A schematic diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of a workpiece portion and a sacrificial portion with additional complex contours is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0028] exist Figure 1 The diagram illustrates, by way of example, a processing machine 1 for cutting and separating a sheet-like material 2 (shown by dashed lines) by means of a cutting beam 3. The processing machine is preferably a laser cutting machine, with the laser beam directed at the sheet-like material 2 to be processed by means of the processing machine. Alternatively, the cutting beam 3 may also be, for example, a plasma jet or a water jet. Alternatively, the processing machine 1 may also be designed for mechanically separating the sheet-like material 2, for example, designed as a stamping machine or a stamping / laser combination machine.

[0029] During processing, the plate-shaped material 2 rests on two workpiece support surfaces 4 and 5, which together form a common workpiece support device for the plate-shaped material 2 in the workpiece support plane E (the XY plane of the XYZ coordinate system). The workpiece support surfaces 4 and 5 can be formed by the worktable surface or by pin-shaped support elements (pins), support belts, brushes, rollers, balls, air cushions, etc.

[0030] The motion and holding device has a driver and also has a clamping device 8 in the form of a jaw for fixing the plate material 2. By means of the motion and holding device 7, the plate material 2 can be moved in a controlled manner on the workpiece support surfaces 4, 5 along a first direction X (hereinafter: X direction) and positioned at a predetermined workpiece position.

[0031] A gap 6 is formed between the two workpiece support surfaces 4 and 5. The gap 6 extends along a second direction (hereinafter: the Y direction) over the entire width of the two workpiece support surfaces 4 and 5. The cutting head 9, which orients and focuses the cutting beam 3 onto the plate-like material 2, can be moved in a controlled manner along the Y direction by means of a driven slider 11, which serves as a moving device and is guided on a fixed gantry 10. In the example shown, the cutting head 9 can also be moved in the X direction and can be moved in a controlled manner along the X direction by means of an additional moving device 12, which is, for example, in the form of a linear actuator and mounted on the slider 11.

[0032] The moving devices 11 and 12 can be used to position the cutting head 9 in both the X and Y directions within the gap 6 at the desired cutting head position X. SY S In the example shown, the cutting head 9 can be moved in another direction Z (hereinafter: Z direction) by means of a third moving device 13 constructed on the second moving device 11, in order to adjust the distance between the processing nozzle 9a of the laser cutting head 9 and the surface of the plate material 2, or to position the cutting head 9 relative to the workpiece support plane in the Z direction at the desired cutting head position Z. S .

[0033] In order to additionally support the plate-shaped material 2 and additionally support the workpiece portion 20 cut during the cutting operation, in Figure 2 The two support slides 14a and 14b shown in the top view are arranged in Figure 1 As shown in the gap 6. Two support slides 14a and 14b extend over the entire width b of the gap 6 and can move independently and in a controlled manner along the Y direction within the gap 6. The controlled movement of the support slides 14a and 14b between the lateral edges 4a and 5a of the fixed workpiece support surfaces 4 and 5 can be achieved, for example, by means of a spindle drive, the spindle and drive motor of which can be mounted on one of the two fixed workpiece support devices 4 and 5.

[0034] Supporting slides 14a and 14b can be moved along the second direction Y within the gap 6 to the desired position Y. UA Y UB This allows the sheet material 2 and the workpiece portion 20 to be cut from or during processing to be supported by the support surfaces 15a, 15b formed on the respective support slides 14a, 14b. Figure 2 In the illustrated case, the support surfaces 15a and 15b of the corresponding support slides 14a and 14b terminate flush with the workpiece support surfaces 4 and 5 in the Z direction; that is, the support surfaces 15a and 15b of the support slides 14a and 14b are located within the support plane E of the plate material 2. Figure 1 In the example shown, the opposing lateral edges of the support surfaces 15a and 15b of the supporting slides 14a and 14b, extending in the X direction, are respectively fitted with covering elements 24a and 24b for covering the gap 6 between the two workpiece support surfaces 4 and 5. The covering elements are designed, for example, in a roller shutter manner, and are able to move within the gap 6 following the support slides 14a and 14b.

[0035] To control the cutting operation, the processing machine 1 has a control device 16, which coordinates the movement of the sheet material 2, the cutting head 9, and the support slides 14a and 14b to adjust the desired workpiece position X. W Desired cutting head position X SY and offset S Z And the desired position Y of supporting skateboards 14a and 14b.UA and Y UB In order to allow the cutting of a predetermined cutting profile 21 and to adequately support the sheet-like material 2, the control device 16 is also used to control the pressing-out device 17, which is laterally fixed to the cutting head 9 and is designed in the form of a pressing-out cylinder, the piston rod of which serves as a pressing-out element 18 to press out the cut-off workpiece portion 20 downwards.

[0036] The sheet-like workpiece 20 can also be alternatively processed in a processing machine 11 having one unique workpiece support device, on which the sheet-like workpiece 2 is placed during processing, while the cutting head 9 is moved in the X and Y directions over the entire workpiece support device (Flying-optics-Maschine, flying optics machine). In such a processing machine, the workpiece support device is usually in the form of a grid support in which the sheet-like workpiece 2 is located on the end of support bars. Gaps are formed between the support bars, through which the workpiece portion 20 can fall down.

[0037] Figure 2 A schematic view of the support slides 14a, 14b and the cutting profile 21 of the workpiece portion 20 is shown. In order to cut off the workpiece portion 20, the cutting head 9 is moved by means of the movement devices 11, 12, 13, wherein the support slides 14a, 14b are moved in correspondence with the position of the cutting beam 3, while maintaining the gap width A, so that the cutting beam 3 can pass downwards through the gap A. The width of the gap A can be changed depending on the cutting profile 21 and / or the size of the workpiece portion 20. In any case, the width of the gap A is kept small, so that the workpiece portion 20 is not pressed out independently downwards during processing.

[0038] Figure 3 A schematic side view of the cutting head 9 during the pressing-out of the cut-off workpiece portion 20 after it has been completely cut off from the sheet-like workpiece 2 is shown. In order to press out the cut-off workpiece portion 20, the pressing-out device 17 is positioned above the cut-off workpiece portion 20. The pressing-out element 18 is then extended and both support slides 14a, 14b are lowered downwards out of the workpiece support plane E, as shown. Once the support slides 14a, 14b have reached their lower end position, the pressing-out element 18 can be moved back from the lower position again to its starting position.

[0039] For the pressing-out, the detached workpiece portion 20 can be moved into the gap 6 below the workpiece support plane E, for example by means of the second support slide 14b in the Y direction, until the pressing-out position has been reached, in which the cut-off workpiece portion 20 is pressed out downwards.

[0040] Alternatively, in order to press out the severed workpiece portions 20, the width of the gap A between the two support slides 14a, 14b can be increased, so that the support surfaces 15a, 15b of the support slides 14a, 14b no longer support the severed workpiece portions. Here, depending on the cutting contour 21 of the workpiece portions 20, the support slides 14a, 14b are moved apart, so that premature tilting is prevented until the severed workpiece portions 20 are not supported by the support surfaces 15a, 15b of the support slides 14a, 14b at all. The severed workpiece portions 20 as take-out portions can thus fall down and be pressed out below the workpiece support plane E.

[0041] Figure 4 A lifting device 26 is shown as an alternative to the pressing-out device 17 in order to take out the severed workpiece portions 20 from the sheet material 2 or from the remaining grid 22 formed from the sheet material 2 after the workpiece portions 20 have been severed. The lifting device 26 comprises at least one gripping device 27 arranged above the sheet material 2 and at least one lifting module 28 arranged below the sheet material 2. The at least one gripping device 27 and the at least one lifting module 28 are received as movable in at least the X direction and the Y direction along linear axes 29, 30. In order to take out the severed sheet workpiece 20, the sheet material 2 is moved in the Y direction along the workpiece support plane E by means of the clamping device 8. The gripping device 27 and the lifting module 28 are movable in the Z direction.

[0042] Figure 5 A schematic view of a lifting pin is shown, with which the severed workpiece portions 20 are lifted relative to the workpiece support plane E, relative to the sheet material 2 by means of the lifting pins 31 of the lifting module 28 in the lifting device 26. At the same time, the sheet material 2 can be held on the lifting pins 31 by the gripping device 27 during the lifting movement. After the workpiece portions 20 have been lifted, the workpiece portions 20 can be taken out by means of the gripping device 27. Preferably, suction elements 32 of the gripping device 27 are activated, so that the severed workpiece portions 20 are then transferred to a discharge position by means of a travel movement of the upper linear axis 29.

[0043] Depending on the size and the cutting contour 21 of the workpiece portions 20, a piston-cylinder unit (not shown in further detail) is used to control the corresponding lifting pins 31 to lift the workpiece portions 20 relative to the sheet material 2 in the lifting module 28.

[0044] Figure 6A top view of the sheet-like material 2 is shown with an exemplary cutting contour 21 having a workpiece portion 20 in the remaining grid 22 around. The thin solid line forms the cutting contour 21 of the workpiece portion 20. The cutting contour 21 of the workpiece portion 20 has, for example, a plurality of complex contours 33. The complex contours 33 can be formed, for example, as an undercut 34. The undercut 34 can be in the form of a U-shaped geometry, for example. Furthermore, a hook-shaped region 35 can form the complex contour 33. The hook-shaped region 35 can also form the undercut 34. Furthermore, the cutting contour 21 can comprise a complex contour 33 in the form of an acute angle 36. The cutting contour 21 can also have, for example, an obtuse angle 37. The number and / or configuration of the undercut 34, the hook-shaped region 35, the acute angle 36 and / or the obtuse angle 37 can be provided individually and / or in any desired combination with one another. As a result of the individual or any desired combination of the regions 34, 35, 36, 37, the workpiece portion 20 has a cutting contour 21 with one or more complex contours 33. Such complex contours 33 of the cutting contour 21 on the workpiece portion 20 have a tendency to tilt and to be difficult to extract.

[0045] In order to improve the process reliability, the regions 34, 35, 36, 37 are configured as a sacrificial portion 41 and are cut. The sacrificial portion 41 is formed between the workpiece portion 20 and the remaining grid 22. The sacrificial portion has a cutting line 42, which is shown by a dashed line and extends between the sacrificial portion 41 and the sheet-like material 2 or the remaining grid 22. Furthermore, the sacrificial portion 41 is formed by a cutting line 43, which is shown, for example, as a solid line and extends at least partially along the cutting contour 21 of the workpiece portion 20 between the two ends of the cutting line 42.

[0046] The cutting line 42 of the sacrificial portion 41, which partially surrounds the sacrificial portion 41, can take the form of a straight line, as shown, for example, in the case of the undercut 34 or in the case of the acute angle 36. The cutting line 42 of the sacrificial portion 41 can also form a convex envelope, which surrounds, for example, the hook-shaped region 35 or the obtuse angle 37.

[0047] By introducing one sacrificial portion 41 or a plurality of sacrificial portions 41, it is made possible for the complex contour 33 to be de-acutified for extraction, that is to say, the workpiece portion 20 having a cutting contour 21 with at least one complex contour 33 comprises a simple outer contour for extraction from the sheet-like material 2 after removal of the sacrificial portion 41.

[0048] When manufacturing the workpiece portion 20 with the cut profile 21, for example, a region 34, i.e., an undercut, can be introduced, followed by a cutting line 42, thereby separating the sacrificial portion 41 located in the undercut 34 relative to the other sheet material 2. An obtuse angle 37 can then be cut, for example, where the cutting line 42 for the sacrificial portion 41 is subsequently introduced, the cutting line being positioned for the obtuse angle 37. This sequence can continue for other sacrificial portions 41. Alternatively, only the cutting line 42 for the sacrificial portion 41 can be introduced first, so that the cutting line 43 for the cut profile 21 of the workpiece portion 20 is subsequently introduced. The order and sequence can be arbitrary. Preferably, short, successive movement paths of the cutting head 9 are controlled to form the cutting lines 42, 41 sequentially. In any case, it is important that the sacrificial portion 41 has been cut before the workpiece portion 20 is completely severed from the sheet material 2.

[0049] In the workpiece part 20 Figure 6 In the embodiment shown, according to one of the three embodiments described above, the workpiece portion 20 can be removed from the plate material by adding the sacrificial portion 41.

[0050] Figure 7 Show along Figure 6 A schematic cross-sectional view of line VI-VI in the diagram. The cutting line 43 for the cutting profile 21 of the workpiece portion 20 is preferably controlled by cutting parameters to achieve high edge quality in the cutting gap. These cutting parameters may include, for example, using nitrogen as the cutting gas, using a smaller focusing diameter, using linear movement of the cutting beam, etc. In the region between the sacrificial portion 41 and the plate material 2, since it is independent of edge quality, the cutting line 42 can be controlled by changing the cutting parameters relative to the cutting line 43. The cutting line 42 may, for example, be formed as a wide kerf, which is cut by the oscillating motion of the laser beam transverse to the cutting gap. Due to the increased gap width, this makes it easier for the sacrificial portion 41 to fall off, be pressed out, or be lifted from the plate material 2 or the remaining mesh 22.

[0051] Figure 8 An alternative embodiment is shown for forming a cutting line 42 between the sacrificial portion 41 and the plate-like material 2 or the remaining mesh 22. In this embodiment, the cutting line 42 can be formed as an angled cut, thereby making it easier for the sacrificial portion 41 to fall downwards due to the cutting geometry. This angled cut can be arbitrary in width of the cutting gap.

[0052] Figure 9A schematic view of the sheet-like material 2 with an alternative cutting profile 21 of the workpiece portion 20 is shown. In the cutting profile 21 of the workpiece portion 20, for example, the width of the workpiece portion 20 is designed to be smaller than the diameter of the press-out element 18 or the lifting pin 31. In order to achieve a safe press-out or lifting of the workpiece portion 20, a sacrificial portion 41 is formed in order to provide sufficient free space for the press-out element 18 or the lifting pin 31 in the sheet-like material 2 or the remaining grid 22 after the sacrificial portion 41 has been removed.

[0053] Figure 10 A further alternative embodiment of the cutting profile 21 of the workpiece portion 20 is shown. In the embodiment, the workpiece portion 20 is pressed out downward by the press-out element 18 of the press-out device 17 described in Figure 1 Alternatively, the workpiece portion 20 can also be pressed out upward. The press-out element 18 is shown schematically. The diameter of the press-out element 18 is greater than the area of the workpiece portion 20 on which the press-out element 18 acts. A portion of the sheet-like material 2 blocks the press-out device of the press-out element. The sacrificial portion 41, which is formed by a cutting line 42 on the one hand and a portion of the cutting line 43 of the cutting profile 21 on the other hand, can achieve the free space.

[0054] In order to manufacture and cut off the workpiece portion 20 and the sacrificial portion 41, for example, the following cutting guide process is controlled by the cutting head 9:

[0055] The support slides 14a, 14b shown schematically are moved during the cutting process so that the cutting beam 3 can enter the gap 6. In order to manufacture the workpiece portion 2, for example, a cut-in is made at the point 45. The cutting beam 3 is then moved toward the cutting profile 21 until the point 51 (arrow 52) and forms the cutting line 43 (arrow 53) until, for example, the position 49 is reached. The cutting line 42 is then introduced until the position 50. Subsequently, the cutting beam 3 can be positioned again relative to the cut 45 and then moved along the cutting line 43 in the direction of the arrow 48 until the position 49 is reached. The cutting head 9 is preferably moved from the position 50 to the position 49, and from there the cutting beam 3 is moved further along the cutting line 43 in a clockwise direction until the cutting line 43 has reached the point 51.

[0056] It is important in the cutting guide process, which can be carried out in various ways and methods, that the sacrificial portion 42 has been cut off before the workpiece portion 20 is completely cut off.

Claims

1. A method for cutting and removing at least one workpiece portion (20) having a complex contour or an asymmetric contour from a sheet-like material (2), - wherein, - cutting at least one workpiece portion (20) by means of a cutting beam (3) directed at the sheet-like material (2) and separating the workpiece portion (20) from the sheet-like material (2), - wherein the at least one workpiece portion (20) is removed from the sheet-like material (2) as a removal portion, which sheet-like material remains as a residual grid (22), wherein - the cut workpiece portion (20) is lifted from a workpiece support plane of the sheet-like material (2) by means of a lifting device (26), or - the cut workpiece portion (20) is guided downward from the workpiece support plane by means of a pressing-out device (17), or the cut workpiece portion (20) is guided downward from the workpiece support plane by means of gravity, characterized in that - at least one sacrificial portion (41) adjoining the workpiece portion (20) is cut before the workpiece portion (20) is cut to be removed from the residual grid (22), the sacrificial portion having a cutting line (43) that is partly common with the workpiece portion (20), and - the at least one sacrificial portion (41) is cut from the sheet-like material (2) before the workpiece portion (20) is cut in the sheet-like material (2) or the residual grid (22).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The cut sacrificial portion (41) is removed from the sheet-like material (2) before the workpiece portion (20) is cut, or the cut sacrificial portion (41) and the cut workpiece portion (20) are simultaneously removed from the sheet-like material (2).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The at least one sacrificial portion (41) is cut adjoining the complex contour (33) of the workpiece portion (20) or at least partially around the complex contour (33) of the workpiece portion (20).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The at least one sacrificial portion (41) is cut adjoining the complex contour (33) of the workpiece portion (20), the complex contour consisting of an undercut (34), a hook region (35), an acute angle (36) or an obtuse angle (37).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, The sacrificial portion (41) of the complex contour (33) configured to the workpiece portion (20) comprises a cutting line (42) toward the sheet-like material (2), which cutting line is formed as a straight or convex envelope.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, The at least one sacrificial portion (41) is cut such that, after the removal of the sacrificial portion (41), a sufficiently large free space is formed in the sheet-like material (2), which sufficiently large free space allows at least one lifting pin (31) or a pressing-out element (18) to act on the workpiece portion (20) without the lifting pin (31) or the pressing-out element (18) coming into contact with the residual grid (22).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, The cutting line (42) between the sacrificial portion (41) and the sheet-like material (2) is cut with an increased cutting gap, which cutting line is not a cutting line (43) common with the workpiece portion (20).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, cutting a cutting line (42) between the sacrificial portion (41) and the sheet-like material (2) with an oblique cut, which cutting line is not a common cutting line (43) with the workpiece portion (20).

9. A machine tool for cutting and removing at least one workpiece portion (20) having a complex or asymmetric contour from a sheet-like material (2), the machine tool having: - two workpiece support surfaces (4, 5) between which a gap (6) is formed, - at least one support slide which is movable in the gap (6) and at least partially covers the gap by at least one cover element (24), - at least one cutting head (9) through which a cutting beam (3) for cutting the workpiece portion (20) is directed at the sheet-like material (2), - a lifting device (26) comprising a gripping device (27) and at least one lifting module (28) with a lifting pin (31) opposite the gripping device, through which a cut workpiece portion (20) can be lifted vertically upwards from a workpiece support plane, or the machine tool has a pressing-out device (17) with at least one pressing-out element (18) in order to press a cut workpiece portion (20) upwards or downwards relative to a workpiece support plane, or the machine tool has a size of the gap (6) which can be controlled by the support slide, so that a cut workpiece portion (20) is caused to fall downwards from the workpiece support plane through the gap (6) by gravity, characterized in that - the machine tool (1) can be controlled by a control device (16) according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 8.

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