Method for controlling a machine tool, in particular an EDM machine

A method for controlling the entire machining operation of machine tools, wherein at least parts of the machining operation are related to multiple machining objects, the machining objects including at least a workpiece and a workstep, and wherein the machining state of each machining object can be described from a list of suitable machining states for the machining object, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a control device comprising a memory management device for managing the entire machining operation in the form of individual machining objects, a monitoring device for monitoring the current machining state of a machining object, and a display device for displaying the current machining state of a machining object;
• b. monitoring the current machining state of each machining object;
• c. selecting a machining object;
• d. changing the machining state of the selected machining object to a different machining state chosen from the list of suitable machining states for the selected machining object;
• e. identifying incompatible machining states of the machining objects not selected;
• and
• f. adapting the machining states of the machining objects not selected to eliminate the identified incompatible machining states.