Method and device for machining contoured recesses, utilizing a graphical user interface for defining contour expressions

A numerical control unit for a machine tool, comprising:

• an arrangement configured to perform a method for machining contour pockets of a workpiece, the method including:
• specifying at least a first elementary surface and a second elementary surface to the numerical control unit;
• displaying softkeys, which correspond to operators and which include picture symbols that explain the operators, on a graphic user interface of the numerical control unit;
• inputting a contour expression using the operators via the graphic user interface;
• combining the first elementary surface with the second elementary surface in the contour expression using the operators to form a combined surface;
• evaluating the contour expression and calculating a surface resulting from the contour expression;
• and
• displaying the resulting surface in the graphic user interface.

A numerical control unit for a machine tool, comprising:

• means for specifying at least a first elementary surface and a second elementary surface to the numerical control unit;
• means for displaying softkeys, which correspond to operators and which include picture symbols that explain the operators, on a graphic user interface of the numerical control unit;
• means for inputting a contour expression using the operators via the graphic user interface;
• means for combining the first elementary surface with the second elementary surface in the contour expression using the operators to form a combined surface;
• means for evaluating the contour expression and calculating a surface resulting from the contour expression;
• and
• means for displaying the resulting surface in the graphic user interface.

A device for machining contour pockets, comprising:

• a numerical control unit configured to define the contour pockets;
• a video screen configured to display a graphic user interface;
• a memory configured to store data that relate to at least a first elementary surface and a second elementary surface and configured to store a contour expression, the data and the contour expression inputtable via a keyboard, the contour expression combining the elementary surfaces with each other using at least one operator;
• wherein the numerical control unit includes a processing unit configured to calculate a resulting surface from the contour expression;
• wherein the video screen is configured to display the resulting surface;
• and
• wherein the graphic user interface includes softkeys that include picture symbols that explain the operators, the operators of the contour expression selectable via the softkeys.