Shearing method, shearing device, and shearing facility

A shearing method for applying a shear force on a plate-shaped workpiece in a thickness direction to cut the workpiece using a shearing machine comprising a lower blade configured to be in contact with a lower side of the workpiece and an upper blade movable in the thickness direction of the workpiece relative to the lower blade, the upper blade facing the lower blade with a clearance, the clearance extending in a surface direction of the workpiece, the surface direction extending orthogonal to the thickness direction of the workpiece, the method comprising:

• bringing the lower blade into contact with the lower side of the workpiece;
• moving the upper blade in the thickness direction until the upper blade is in contact with an upper side of the workpiece while retaining the clearance;
• starting application of the shear force on the workpiece by moving the upper blade in contact with the upper side of the workpiece further in the thickness direction of the workpiece prior to a fractured surface being created on the workpiece;
• and
• producing an increase in the clearance by increasing the clearance in a stepwise manner depending on a relative movement distance between the upper blade and the lower blade in the thickness direction of the workpiece-after the upper blade is in contact with the upper side of the workpiece prior to the fractured surface being created.