Operating method for a numerical control system wherein the numerical control system executes a system program, wherein the numerical control system, while executing the system program, a) while evaluating presets (V1, V2), determines at least one group of position setpoint values (xi*) for position-controlled axes of a production machine controlled by the numerical control system, wherein the presets comprise both defined presets previously known to the numerical control system, in particular defined by command sets of a parts program, and external real time events previously unknown to the numerical control system, b) checks whether, during activation of the position-controlled axes with the determined groups of position setpoint values (xi*), the risk of a collision of at least one element (2, 3) moved by the activation of the position-controlled axes with at least one other element (2, 3, 9, 10) exists, c) if no risk of a collision exists, stores the at least one group of position setpoint values (xi*) in a buffer store and reads out from the buffer store at least one other group of position setpoint values (xi*) already stored in the buffer store and activates the position-controlled axes according to the at least one group of position setpoint values (xi*) read out from the buffer store and continues the operating method at step a) so that the element moved by the position-controlled axes is moved along a path defined by the sequence of the groups of position setpoint values (xi*), and d) if the risk of a collision exists, brings the position-controlled axes to a standstill, so that the numerical control system takes account of the external real time events previously unknown to the numerical control system exclusively in the context of the determination of the groups of position setpoint values (xi*) which are to be stored in the buffer store, but no longer alters the groups of position setpoint values (xi*) already stored in the buffer store, wherein the numerical control system executes its entire operating method in a clocked manner, wherein, with each time interval, at least one new group of position setpoint values (xi*) is stored in the buffer store and at least one group of setpoint values (xi*) already stored in the buffer store are read out of the buffer store, wherein, between a respective writing time point at which a respective group of position setpoint values (xi*) is stored in the buffer store and a respective readout time point at which the same group of position setpoint values is read out of the buffer store, there is a dwell time during which the respective group of position setpoint values (xi*) is stored in the buffer store and wherein during the dwell time in the buffer store the respective group of position setpoint values (xi*) is longer changed. a) while evaluating presets (V1, V2), determines at least one group of position setpoint values (xi*) for position-controlled axes of a production machine controlled by the numerical control system, wherein the presets comprise both defined presets previously known to the numerical control system, in particular defined by command sets of a parts program, and external real time events previously unknown to the numerical control system, b) checks whether, during activation of the position-controlled axes with the determined groups of position setpoint values (xi*), the risk of a collision of at least one element (2, 3) moved by the activation of the position-controlled axes with at least one other element (2, 3, 9, 10) exists, c) if no risk of a collision exists, stores the at least one group of position setpoint values (xi*) in a buffer store and reads out from the buffer store at least one other group of position setpoint values (xi*) already stored in the buffer store and activates the position-controlled axes according to the at least one group of position setpoint values (xi*) read out from the buffer store and continues the operating method at step a) so that the element moved by the position-controlled axes is moved along a path defined by the sequence of the groups of position setpoint values (xi*), and d) if the risk of a collision exists, brings the position-controlled axes to a standstill, so that the numerical control system takes account of the external real time events previously unknown to the numerical control system exclusively in the context of the determination of the groups of position setpoint values (xi*) which are to be stored in the buffer store, but no longer alters the groups of position setpoint values (xi*) already stored in the buffer store, wherein the numerical control system executes its entire operating method in a clocked manner, wherein, with each time interval, at least one new group of position setpoint values (xi*) is stored in the buffer store and at least one group of setpoint values (xi*) already stored in the buffer store are read out of the buffer store, wherein, between a respective writing time point at which a respective group of position setpoint values (xi*) is stored in the buffer store and a respective readout time point at which the same group of position setpoint values is read out of the buffer store, there is a dwell time during which the respective group of position setpoint values (xi*) is stored in the buffer store and wherein during the dwell time in the buffer store the respective group of position setpoint values (xi*) is longer changed.