Numerical control device and numerical control system

A numerical control device that is coupled to an external device via a control device and controls the external device by using a numerical control program, the numerical control device comprising:

• a signal unit that controls an action of the numerical control device in accordance with a signal state;
• a control path selection unit that selects a control path designated from a plurality of control paths including a control path for the external device in accordance with an input from the signal unit;
• a display/operation unit that allows state display of and an operation on the numerical control device;
• an external device control path selection/operation unit that provides, when a selection operation for the control path for the external device is performed on the display/operation unit, to the signal unit, a notification about switching to the control path for the external device to make the control path for the external device selectable and that provides, when an operation is performed on the display/operation unit while the control path for the external device is selected, a notification to the signal unit in accordance with the operation to make the control path for the external device operable;
• an analysis unit that analyzes an external device control command in the numerical control program during running of the control path for the external device;
• an external device command signal generation unit that generates, in accordance with the external device control command that the analysis unit has analyzed, an external device command signal for executing an action of the external device;
• and
• a transmission/reception unit that transmits, to the control device, the external device command signal that the external device command signal generation unit has generated.