An assistance system for steering a machine tool comprising a manually controlled cutting tool, the assistance system comprising: a first data port to receive data defining a model of a desired cut to be made on a workpiece by the cutting tool, a second data port to receive data related to the current position of the cutting tool in, at least, two dimensions, a processor to generate from the received data a graphical display showing: the desired cut to be made, a cutting tool icon at the current position of the cutting tool relative to the desired cut, an indication of the current error between either the current position, or direction of travel, of the cutting tool and the desired cut, characterized in that the generated graphical display is further adapted to show: an increase button and a decrease button to change the zoom level of the display, wherein the indication of the current error comprises an angular scale having a pronounced marker, and a direction arrow pointing in a direction to the desired cut, the assistance system further characterized in that the processor is adapted to rotate, during making the desired cut by the cutting tool, the angular scale further than the direction arrow such that the distance between the tip of the direction arrow and the pronounced marker of the angular scale indicates the distance of the cutting tool icon from the desired cut, wherein the center point for the rotation of both the direction arrow and the angular scale lies at the center of the cutting tool icon. a first data port to receive data defining a model of a desired cut to be made on a workpiece by the cutting tool, a second data port to receive data related to the current position of the cutting tool in, at least, two dimensions, a processor to generate from the received data a graphical display showing: the desired cut to be made, a cutting tool icon at the current position of the cutting tool relative to the desired cut, an indication of the current error between either the current position, or direction of travel, of the cutting tool and the desired cut, characterized in that the generated graphical display is further adapted to show: an increase button and a decrease button to change the zoom level of the display, wherein the indication of the current error comprises an angular scale having a pronounced marker, and a direction arrow pointing in a direction to the desired cut, the assistance system further characterized in that the processor is adapted to rotate, during making the desired cut by the cutting tool, the angular scale further than the direction arrow such that the distance between the tip of the direction arrow and the pronounced marker of the angular scale indicates the distance of the cutting tool icon from the desired cut, wherein the center point for the rotation of both the direction arrow and the angular scale lies at the center of the cutting tool icon. the desired cut to be made, a cutting tool icon at the current position of the cutting tool relative to the desired cut, an indication of the current error between either the current position, or direction of travel, of the cutting tool and the desired cut, characterized in that the generated graphical display is further adapted to show: an increase button and a decrease button to change the zoom level of the display, wherein the indication of the current error comprises an angular scale having a pronounced marker, and a direction arrow pointing in a direction to the desired cut, the assistance system further characterized in that the processor is adapted to rotate, during making the desired cut by the cutting tool, the angular scale further than the direction arrow such that the distance between the tip of the direction arrow and the pronounced marker of the angular scale indicates the distance of the cutting tool icon from the desired cut, wherein the center point for the rotation of both the direction arrow and the angular scale lies at the center of the cutting tool icon.