In a numerical control system including a numerical controller having a tool database and a tool catalog database which can be referred to from the numerical controller, the tool catalog database has tool catalog data including first cutting condition data, and the tool database has tool data including second cutting condition data to be used for machining. After execution of the machining, the numerical controller updates the first cutting condition data to be stored in the tool catalog database based on the second cutting condition data stored in the tool database.

A machine tool includes a movable structure 3, a numerical control unit 22, an external input unit 39 having a dedicated operation key for inputting an operation signal associated with at least a movement end point to which the movable structure 3 is moved, a display unit 39 displaying an image, a display control unit 25 controlling the display on the display unit 39, an input control unit 24 processing a signal input from the external input unit 39, and a movement path setting unit 32 receiving the operation signal input from the external input unit 39 and setting a movement path for moving the movable structure 3 corresponding to the operation signal to the movement end point according to a predetermined setting condition. The display control unit 25 displays an image relating to the movement path set by the movement path setting unit 32 on the display unit 39.

A method performed by a work tools communication system facilitates communication between a tool server and tool controllers connected thereto. The method includes: sending, from the tool server to a first of the tool controllers, a message, including a destination address of and a requested action to be performed by the first tool controller, to control at least one work tool connected to the first tool controller. The method also includes, by the first tool controller: receiving the message based on the destination address; analysing the message to detect the requested action; and controlling the at least one work tool according to the detected requested action. The message includes header and payload parts, including the requested action and details of the requested action, respectively. The payload part is divided into a plurality of data nodes, each data node including a type of data field and a data value field.

In a numerical control system including a numerical controller having a tool database and a tool catalog database which can be referred to from the numerical controller, the tool catalog database has tool catalog data including first cutting condition data, and the tool database has tool data including second cutting condition data to be used for machining. After execution of the machining, the numerical controller updates the first cutting condition data to be stored in the tool catalog database based on the second cutting condition data stored in the tool database.