Numerical control device and numerical control system

Abstract

The present invention provides a technology that enables the simple control of actions of an external device, for example, a robot, via a signal from a numerical control device. A numerical control device is provided, which is connected to an external device via a control unit and which uses a numerical control program to control the external device. The numerical control device comprises: a signaling unit that controls actions of the numerical control device in response to a signal from a machine tool controlled by the numerical control device; and a plurality of control systems, comprising a control system for the external device and a control system for the machine tool.A signal selection unit that selects from the multitude of control systems other than the control system of the external device a control system with which the control system of the external device refers to a specific signal; a signal determination unit that determines whether or not notification of the specific signal has been received from the one control system selected by the signal selection unit; and a signal transmission unit that, if notification of the specific signal has been received, notifies the control device of the specific signal, the control device controlling the control system of the external device according to the notified specific signal.

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