Patent ID: 7756672

Claim:
Method for setting at least one predetermined distance between a machine tool ( 10 ) and a metallic workpiece ( 12 ), whereby a capacitative and/or inductive sensor ( 16 ) is fixed in place on the machine tool ( 10 ), facing the workpiece ( 12 ), and wherein a limit difference that characterizes the predetermined distance is stored in the memory of the data processing unit ( 24 ), comprising the steps of moving the machine tool ( 10 ) towards the workpiece ( 12 ) at a constant speed, by means of a drive device, and reading out a sensor signal at predetermined time intervals, by means of a data processing device ( 24 ), which signal has a characteristic variable that continuously changes, in non-linear manner, as a function of the distance of the machine tool ( 10 ) from the workpiece ( 12 ), comparing each value of the characteristic variable that is read out by means of the data processing unit ( 24 ) with a comparison value read out previously a predetermined number of time intervals, and calculating the difference of the values compared with one another, and stopping the movement of the machine tool ( 10 ) is when the amount of the difference of the values compared with one another reaches or exceeds the limit difference.