Patent ID: 8326448

Claim:
A method for operating a machine tool having an initial machine configuration, comprising the steps of: generating a parts program for controlling a machining operation of the machine tool having the initial machine configuration by simulating the machining operation with a simulated configuration of the machine tool and a parts program in which the simulated configuration is not yet stored, said parts program fixedly associated with the initial machine configuration, transmitting the parts program to a simulation unit which has stored therein a replication of the initial machine configuration of the machine tool as the simulated machine configuration, testing the parts program with the simulated machine configuration, storing the simulated machine configuration of the machine tool in the parts program by replacing the parts program in which the simulated configuration was not yet stored, determining an actual machine configuration of the machine tool, comparing the actual machine configuration with the simulated machine configuration stored in the parts program, and generating a warning message and preventing operation of the actual machine configuration with the parts program having the simulated machine configuration if the actual machine configuration is not in conformance with the simulated machine configuration.