Patent ID: 7899575

Claim:
A machine tool for processing a workpiece comprising: a processing tool, the processing tool being movable relative to the workpiece and the workpiece being movable relative to the processing tool along a common movement axis, and a control unit configured to selectively actuate the processing tool and the workpiece so that, in a first processing mode both the processing tool and the workpiece are moved along the common movement axis for cutting a slit between the workpiece and a workpiece cut-out, and, in a second processing mode, the processing tool alone is moved along the common movement axis for cutting the workpiece cut-out free from the workpiece at a residual connection which has been left by partial cutting during the first processing mode, wherein the control unit is configured to switch, during processing of the workpiece, from the first processing mode to the second processing mode when a length of the residual connection is too small to prevent relative movement between the workpiece cut-out and the workpiece.