A method for regulating the distance between two tool components of an extrusion machine (1) for the continuous manufacture of profiles (2) from a moldable extrusion material (3), comprising the following steps:
- determining or defining a first distance value between a first tool component and a distance measuring device (37), wherein the distance measuring device (37) or the first distance value serves as a reference for temperature-related length changes of the first tool component,
- and storing the first distance value in a control and/or regulating device (36);
- approaching and feeding a second tool component to the stationary first tool component until the second tool component abuts against the first tool component,
- and displacing the second tool component, which abuts against the first tool component, by an initial adjustment travel stored in the control and/or regulating device (36) and, thereby forming a gap between the first tool component and the second tool component with a base gap width;
- initially operating the extrusion machine (1) and thereby feeding the extrusion material (3) into the extrusion machine (1) to the first tool component and molding the extrusion material (3) into the profile (2);
- determining further distance values between the first tool component and the distance measuring device (37) during the molding operation of the extrusion machine (1),
- calculating a distance difference value from the first distance value minus one of the further distance values, wherein the distance difference corresponds to a temperature-related thermal expansion of the first tool component,
- calculating an actual value of a gap width between the first tool component and the second tool component by subtracting the actual value of the distance difference value from the value of the base gap width,
- determining, whether the actual value of the gap width is within a range of values stored in the control and/or regulating device with a lower target value of the gap width and an upper target value of the gap width, and
- adjusting the actual value of the gap width by displacing the second tool component away from the first tool component if the gap width falls below the lower target value or displacing the second tool component towards the first tool component if the gap width exceeds the upper target value;
- wherein the extrusion machine comprises a main frame (5);
- wherein a tool holding device (6) is pivotally supported about a pivot axis (7) and held on the main frame (5) so that the tool holding device is pivotable between a working position and a release position;
- wherein the distance measuring device (37) is fixed stationary to the main frame (5) at a fixed distance from an axis about which the first tool component moves;
- wherein a barrier-free and straight measuring path is formed between the distance measuring device (37) and the first tool component;
- and
- wherein a length of the barrier-free and straight measuring path between the distance measuring device (37) and the first tool component is a multiple of the base gap width.