A control device for operating a machine tool having a motor-driven, traversable and positionable tool head. The control device executes a freely programmable control program and determines or co-determines the sequence of operations of the machine tool. The control device also comprises a user interface for influencing the sequence of operations of the machine tool by manual control, at least one operating element for manually controlling changes to movements of the tool head being formed on the user interface. A multi-functionally designed operating element is designed to manually preset or influence a feed rate during a machining phase of the tool head and which multi-functionally designed operating element, in a second usage mode, is designed to manually preset or influence a rapid-traverse rate during a rapid-traverse phase of the tool head. The multi-functionally designed operating element is designed as a rotary actuator operating element comprising a continuously rotatable actuating member.

A modular control apparatus comprises a central control module with a first logic unit and a second logic unit, first electronic modules connected to the first logic unit and having safety inputs and safety outputs, wherein the first electronic modules are designed to provide safety functions of a safety controller, and second electronic modules connected to the second logic unit and having inputs and outputs, wherein the second electronic modules are designed to provide standard functions of a programmable logic controller. The central control module and the first and second electronic modules are arranged in a row of modules. The safety functions of the first electronic modules are defined by positions of the first electronic modules in the row of modules and/or by fixed hardware settings, and the standard functions of the second electronic modules are programmable.

A control device for operating a machine tool having a motor-driven, traversable and positionable tool head. The control device executes a freely programmable control program and determines or co-determines the sequence of operations of the machine tool. The control device also comprises a user interface for influencing the sequence of operations of the machine tool by manual control, at least one operating element for manually controlling changes to movements of the tool head being formed on the user interface. A multi-functionally designed operating element is designed to manually preset or influence a feed rate during a machining phase of the tool head and which multi-functionally designed operating element, in a second usage mode, is designed to manually preset or influence a rapid-traverse rate during a rapid-traverse phase of the tool head. The multi-functionally designed operating element is designed as a rotary actuator operating element comprising a continuously rotatable actuating member.