Switching between workpiece processing operating modes of a processing machine

A workpiece processing machine comprising:

• a memory configured to store respective operating settings relating to potential operator interventions for different workpiece processing operating modes of the workpiece processing machine, the operating modes being different from one another in respect of the operator intervention requirements of an operator of the workpiece processing machine;
• a control system configured to change an operation of the processing machine in at least one of a processing sequence, a process safety, quality of a processing result, a processing speed, and a degree of automation in accordance with operating settings stored in the memory, in response to switching from an operator-attended first operating mode (a first operating mode) of the processing machine to a non-operator-attended second operating mode (a second operating mode) of the processing machine;
• and
• an operator feedback device operable by the control system
• to provide a feedback to an operator of the machine as to whether switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode is complete, and
• to provide an indication to the operator, indicating whether an early operator interventions is required to extend operation of the processing machine in the second operating mode, wherein the indication is being provided in response to anticipating a future second operating mode fault condition.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a data processing apparatus and configured to, upon such execution, cause a workpiece processing machine to:

• switch from a first operating mode to a second operating mode;
• look up stored operating settings specific to the second operating mode and related to one or more potential operator interventions;
• change operation of the processing machine in at least one of a processing sequence, a process safety, quality of a processing result, a processing speed, and a degree of automation in accordance of the stored operating settings specific to the second operating mode;
• provide feedback to an operator of the machine, indicating whether a switch to the second operating mode is complete;
• anticipating a future second operating mode fault condition;
• and
• in response to anticipating a future second operating mode fault condition, providing an indication to the operator, indicating whether an early operator interventions is required to extend operation of the processing machine in the second operating mode.