Patent ID: 7386359

Claim:
A test device for testing a machine tool or production machine comprising: a simulation system that simulates a characteristic of the machine tool or production machine; a machine controller in communication with the simulation system for exchanging process data with the simulation system; an automated control and monitoring unit in communication with the machine controller and the simulation system, said simulation system implemented on a computer and providing to the control and monitoring unit process signals that are processed and stored in the control and monitoring unit, and an interpreter integrated in the control and monitoring unit, wherein the interpreter directly executes at least one predefined instruction sequence programmed in an interpretative high-level language, without requiring advance compilation, wherein the control and monitoring unit processes the at least one predefined instruction sequence, generates from the instruction sequence control commands for operating the machine controller, and transmits the control commands for testing the machine tool or production machine to the machine controller for execution by the machine controller, said at least one instruction sequence further including control instructions.