Patent ID: 8195911

Claim:
A numerical controller having an operation function that transfers a machining program stored in a storage unit in a computer connected to the numerical controller, an external storage unit connected to the numerical controller, or a non-volatile memory in the numerical controller to another memory other than the non-volatile memory in the numerical controller, and stores the transferred machining program therein, the operation function being based on the machining program, the numerical controller comprising: means for dividing an area of the other memory into a plurality of memory areas in response to a command from the computer or a process in the numerical controller; means for further dividing at least one of the divided areas into a plurality of areas for storing machining programs which are smaller in size than that of the divided areas or larger in number than that of the divided areas; deciding means for deciding, when the machining program is transferred to and stored in the other memory, whether a machining program has been stored in each of the plurality of memory areas; and writing means for writing the machining program to a memory area for which the deciding means decides that no machining program is stored.