Numerical controller equipped with optional block skip function

A numerical controller for executing a cutting program to machine a workpiece, said cutting program including a plurality of program blocks specifying predetermined machining operations, comprising:

• numerical information storage medium means for storing said cutting program, including at least one program block having skip object indicating information and skip select information therein;
• manually poperable block select switch means for identifying which blocks that include skip object identifying information are to be executed;
• buffer memory circuit means for storing program blocks;
• and
• block skip circuit means responsive to said block select switch means for receiving program blocks from said numerical information storage medium means and sending them on for storage in said buffer memory circuit means if they do not include skip object indicating information and if they do include skip object indicating information along with skip select information corresponding to blocks identified by said block select switch means.

A numerical controller method for executing a machining program to machine a workpiece, said machining program including a plurality of program blocks specifying predetermined machining operations, comprising the steps of:

• including skip object indicating information and skip select information in a plurality of program blocks;
• storing said program blocks in a numerical information storage medium;
• reading said program blocks out of said numerical information storage medium;
• testing the read-out blocks to see if they include skip object indicating information;
• storing the read-out blocks in a buffer memory circuit for subsequent execution if they do not include skip object indicating information;
• storing the read-out blocks in the buffer memory, in the event that they do include skip object indicating information, only if they also include skip select information corresponding to blocks previously selected for execution on a manually operable block select switch.