Apparatus and method for controlling and/or monitoring a technical installation for producing and/or processing metal, having an assistant program with at least one interface for connection to application programs, wherein the assistant program receives a request for an item of information relating to the installation from at least one requesting application program via the interface, wherein the assistant program can access a data model that provides a suggestion of which information can be provided by at least one further application program. The assistant program determining, based on the request and on the data model, which application program can provide the requested information, wherein the assistant program transmits the request to the at least one determined application program which can provide the requested information, wherein the assistant program receives a response from the determined application program, and wherein the assistant program outputs the received response to the requesting application program.

Apparatus and method for controlling and/or monitoring a technical installation for producing and/or processing metal, having an assistant program with at least one interface for connection to application programs, wherein the assistant program receives a request for an item of information relating to the installation from at least one requesting application program via the interface, wherein the assistant program can access a data model that provides a suggestion of which information can be provided by at least one further application program. The assistant program determining, based on the request and on the data model, which application program can provide the requested information, wherein the assistant program transmits the request to the at least one determined application program which can provide the requested information, wherein the assistant program receives a response from the determined application program, and wherein the assistant program outputs the received response to the requesting application program.

In a method for operating a machine tool system with a machine tool for machining a workpiece using a tool, a control device is connected to the machine tool for generating a relative movement between the workpiece and the tool using a program executable by the control device. The control device includes an operating unit having a display device, allowing an operator to interact with the control device. The operator can manually alter with the operating unit a technology parameter. However, the operator generally does not know how a manual alteration of a technology parameter will affect productivity. Therefore, a measure for a change to production-related characteristics variable resulting from the manual alteration is determined and displayed to the operator on the display device directly or in relation to an associated relative measure.

A flexible map with application data identifiers for PLC communications is described. An example method comprises receiving a first user input indicative of a selection of a parameter from a plurality of parameters associated with an adhesive dispensing system (614). The parameter is subject to data exchange between a controller (616) of the adhesive dispensing system (614) and an associated programmable logic controller (610). A second user input is received that is indicative of a memory space location in a memory space of the controller (616). A custom data map is generated that is indicative of an association between the selected parameter and the memory space location.

Provided is a numerical control device whereby the execution state of a program can be more intuitively confirmed. This numerical control device, which controls a machine tool on the basis of a program, comprises: a program execution unit having a prescribed function for executing a program in response to the rotation of a manual handle of the machine tool; an execution state identification unit that identifies the execution state of the program; and a haptic controller that generates haptic feedback in the manual handle on the basis of the prescribed function and the execution state of the program.

Provided is a numerical control device whereby the execution state of a program can be more intuitively confirmed. This numerical control device, which controls a machine tool on the basis of a program, comprises: a program execution unit having a prescribed function for executing a program in response to the rotation of a manual handle of the machine tool; an execution state identification unit that identifies the execution state of the program; and a haptic controller that generates haptic feedback in the manual handle on the basis of the prescribed function and the execution state of the program.

Provided is a numerical control device which can improve the operability of a machine tool. The numerical control device controls a machine tool having a manual handle for moving a shaft by manual operation. The numerical control device comprises: a control mode determination unit for determining a control mode of the machine tool; a haptic control unit for generating haptic feedback at the manual handle on the basis of the control mode determined by the control mode determination unit; and a manual handle control unit for performing, by rotating operation of the manual handle where the haptic feedback is generated, control of the machine tool by the numerical control device.

Provided is a numerical control device which can improve the operability of a machine tool. The numerical control device controls a machine tool having a manual handle for moving a shaft by manual operation. The numerical control device comprises: a control mode determination unit for determining a control mode of the machine tool; a haptic control unit for generating haptic feedback at the manual handle on the basis of the control mode determined by the control mode determination unit; and a manual handle control unit for performing, by rotating operation of the manual handle where the haptic feedback is generated, control of the machine tool by the numerical control device.

Provided is a numerical control device which makes it possible to improve operating efficiency. The numerical control device according to the present invention controls a machine tool with a manually-operated handle, and is provided with a status identification unit that identifies a state of the numerical control device or the machine tool, and a haptic control unit that causes haptic feedback to be generated in the manually-operated handle on the basis of the status of the numerical control device or the machine tool identified by the status identification unit.

Provided is a numerical control device which makes it possible to improve operating efficiency. The numerical control device according to the present invention controls a machine tool with a manually-operated handle, and is provided with a status identification unit that identifies a state of the numerical control device or the machine tool, and a haptic control unit that causes haptic feedback to be generated in the manually-operated handle on the basis of the status of the numerical control device or the machine tool identified by the status identification unit.