Method and apparatus for cycle-based programming of a control program for a numerically controlled machine tool

A computer-implemented method for cycle-based programming of a control program for a numerically controlled machine tool at a control apparatus of and at the machine tool, the control apparatus of and at the machine tool including a control panel with a display and a graphical user interface displayed on the display, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• providing a plurality of machine control cycles, wherein each machine control cycle is associated with a respective predetermined machining operation of processing a workpiece at the machine tool;
• providing workpiece data, in particular raw part data and/or machined part data, comprising 3D data indicative of at least part of a 3D model of a workpiece to be machined at the machine tool;
• executing a data analysis processing, for detecting and/or identifying one or more geometrical features of the workpiece which are producible by at least one of the predetermined machining operations and/or for detecting and/or identifying one or more process parameters relevant for at least one of the predetermined machining operations, on the basis of geometrical characteristics of the 3D model of the provided workpiece data at a server being communicably connected to the control apparatus of and at the machine tool or at the control apparatus of and at the machine tool;
• associating geometrical features, which have been detected and/or identified within the data analysis processing performed on the basis of the geometrical characteristics of the 3D model of the provided workpiece data, each detected and/or identified geometrical feature being associated with a respective one of the predetermined machining operations, with a respective one of the machine control cycles which is associated with a respective one of the predetermined machining operations with which the respective associated geometry feature is producible;
• providing, with the graphical user interface displayed on the display of the control panel of the control apparatus of and at the machine tool, one or more user-selectable options for cycle-based programming of the control program for the machine tool, each user-selectable option enabling a user to select a respective one of the machine control cycles being respectively associated with a respective one of the detected and/or identified geometrical features;
• determining, for at least one of the detected and/or identified geometrical features a set of one or more parameters, in particular including at least one of one or more geometrical parameters and one or more position parameters, associated with the respective geometrical feature based on the 3D model of the provided workpiece data;
• and
• using the determined set of one or more parameters associated with the respective geometrical feature to automatically populate an NC code template associated with a machine control cycle which is associated with the respective geometrical feature.