Numerical control apparatus

A numerical control apparatus comprising:

• an application programing interface (API) for acquiring data used in a process relating to a human machine interface (HMI);
• a load definition table in which an upper-limit central processing unit (CPU) load of the numerical control apparatus is defined for each API function provided by the API, the upper-limit CPU load ensuring that a process of the API function is completed in a predetermined period set in advance;
• a CPU configured as:
• an API interface section that accepts invocation of an API function provided by the API;
• an API control section that executes a process of the API function based on the invocation of the API function;
• load monitoring means for monitoring a load on the CPU in the numerical control apparatus;
• and
• processing period estimation means for estimating if the execution of the API function is completed in the predetermined period by referring to the load definition table based on information on the invocation of the API function and a current CPU load value monitored by the load monitoring means,
• wherein the API control section does not execute but terminates the process of the API function when the processing period estimation means estimates that the execution of the API function will not be completed in the predetermined period.