METHOD FOR PREDICTIVE IDENTIFICATION OF A WORKPIECE EDGE WHEN THE LASER

The invention relates to a method for laser-machining a plate-shaped workpiece end region (14) by means of a laser beam (3), which is emitted from a laser-machining head (5) in the z-direction and is directed to a workpiece (2) in the z-direction, comprising the following method steps:-turning off the laser beam (3), approaching the laser machining head (5), which is fixed at a predetermined z target distance (zS) from the workpiece (2), from the outside in the direction of the workpiece edge (15) of the workpiece end region (14); measuring the distance (A) between the laser machining head (5) and the workpiece edge (15) during the approaching of the laser machining head (5) to the workpiece edge (15); switching on the laser beam (3) when the measured distance (A) decreases to a predefined distance threshold value (Ath) which is greater than a fixed z target distance (zS); and further moving the laser machining head (5) in the direction of movement (x) in order to move the laser beam (3) across the workpiece