Method for restarting a tool onto a workpiece contour

Claim 1

A process for restarting a tool onto a workpiece contour after a program interruption, in a numerically controlled processing machine of the type comprising a controller, a display unit for graphically representing processing information, and means for storing a plurality of program sets which combine to form a processing program, each program set representing a respective contour section of the workpiece contour to be produced, wherein the machine is characterized by a function state and a tool axial position state, said process comprising the following steps: (a) after a program interruption, restarting the processing program in a control mode, without machine movement, from a selected beginning point; (b) displaying a graphical representation on the display unit of one of (1) a workpiece contour and (2) a tool path generated by the controller during execution of the processing program in the control mode; (c) manually determining with the aid of the graphical representation of step (b) an end point of the control mode execution of the processing program to which is allocated a starting point for the tool onto the workpiece contour; (d) causing the function state and the tool axial position state of the machine to correspond to values associated with the end point of the control mode execution of the processing program; and (e) continuing execution of the processing program from the end point of the control mode execution, with the controller in a processing mode in which the controller commands machine movement in accordance with the processing program to cause the tool to restart onto the workpiece contour.