Plunge milling method

A plunge milling method for removal of an area of material of a workpiece utilizing a milling tool that is moved multiple times into the material area to remove the material, the method comprising:

• a) defining the area of material of the workpiece that is to be removed by a plurality of milling paths, each of the milling paths defining end positions of a milling head of the milling tool for forming plunge milling bores;
• b) determining a guide curve for each of the milling paths, each of the guide curves defining initial positions of the milling head during the formation of the plunge milling bores;
• c) orienting the milling tool based on one of the milling paths and its respective guide curve such that the milling tool will not collide with a contour to be formed on the workpiece;
• and
• d) determining bore axes for the plunge milling bores associated with each of said milling paths and respective guide curves, the bore axes corresponding to a prespecified degree of overlap of the plunge milling bores that are to be formed along the milling paths.