To control the direction of a heating torch so that the height of the heating torch is kept constant relative to a plate to be heated, and the heating torch is orthogonal to the plate.
In a posture control method, first, second and third distance meters having respectively a stylus to be abutted on a plate to be heated, are provided, and the height of a heating torch which is tiltable within the X-axis plane and the Y-axis plane and movable vertically in the Z-axis direction which is the axial direction of the heating torch is kept approximately constant based on the detected values from the respective distance meters, and the direction of the heating torch is controlled so that the heating torch is orthogonal to the plate to be heated. The arithmetic mean value (S1+S2)/2 of the detected values S1 and S2 from the first and second distance meters is obtained, and a Y-axis plane angle of inclination regulating mechanism is controlled so that the difference [(S1+S2)/2-S3] between the arithmetic mean value and the detected value S3 of the third distance meter is Δ. Δ is the height correction value of the heating torch which is preset according to the direction and the curvature of the curved surface of the plate to be heated.
SAKAI SADAAKI
MURAYAMA HIROSHI
SHIP & OCEAN ZAIDAN
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