A combination of electronic hardware, a microprocessor (embodied, e.g., in a personal-style computer (“PC”)), and control software blended together with unique systems integration techniques. When stationed at a machine tool, the result is an grated, interactive and intuitive machine tool or workstation capable of computer aided design (CAD), optional reverse engineering parts via coordinate measurement machining (CMM), toolpath generation computer aided manufacturing (CAM), and direct machine tool control (Direct CNC) by one person at one work station with a common human machine interface (HMI) and common file formats.

A method of machining a metal panel to impart a 2-dimensional representation of an image and a 3-dimensional representation of a dimensional design on the metal panel. An image file is received and converted to at least one image control file. A dimensional design file is received and converted to at least one dimensional design control file. The metal panel is then machined in accordance with the image control file to transfer the representation of the image on the metal panel and machined in accordance with the dimensional design control file to transfer the representation of the dimensional design on the metal panel adjacent to the representation of the image.

A combination of electronic hardware, a microprocessor (embodied, e.g., in a personal-style computer (PC)), and control software blended together with unique systems integration techniques. When stationed at a machine tool, the result is an grated, interactive and intuitive machine tool or workstation capable of computer aided design (CAD), optional reverse engineering parts via coordinate measurement machining (CMM), toolpath generation computer aided manufacturing (CAM), and direct machine tool control (Direct CNC) by one person at one work station with a common human machine interface (HMI) and common file formats.

A machine tool control method includes reading a machining program including a program code and additional information. The program code represents at least operation among manipulating a workpiece and operating at least one tool by the machine tool. The additional information includes at least cutting information obtained from a cutting volume. The cutting volume is obtained by excluding a product geometry from a workpiece geometry. The machine tool is controlled to actuate, based on the cutting information, at least one peripheral device other than device for operating the workpiece and device for operating the at least one tool among equipment of the machine tool, when the machine tool performs the at least one operation.