Patent ID: 7174225

Claim:
A method for simulating processing of a workpiece with a machine tool, comprising the steps of: providing to a controller control software and an application program having control commands that control processing of the workpiece with the machine tool; providing to a computer, that is separate from the controller and comprises a computer-internal model of the machine tool, a simulation program comprising the control software executable on the controller; the controller transmitting the application program to the computer; the computer executing the application program and step-by-step determining based on the simulation program machine-dependent control commands executable by the controller, said machine-dependent control commands depending on a virtual time base that is independent of an actual time base, and the computer determining, based on a computer-internal model of the machine tool and the determined machine-dependent control commands, expected actual states of the machine tool, thereby simulating execution of the machine-dependent control commands in the machine tool.