Abstract: Process and apparatus for preventing collisions between two machine components, of which at least a first machine component is displaceable by means of a drive along a straight track relative to the second machine component such that the two components can collide, wherein for the simple and reliable prevention of such collisions a sequence of pulses is generated during movement of at least one of the two components relative to the other component by means of signal generating devices associated with the two machine components, namely such that the distance and/or the length and/or the height of consecutive pulses follows a function of the distance of the two components from one another, measured in track direction, and wherein the drive is controlled as a function of this sequence of pulses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking performance of the cutting-off operation on automatic lathes for working bar material or the like. In accordance with the invention, operating conditions are initiated at the end of a prescribed time interval for the cutting-off operation which result in relative rotation of the spindles in opposite directions in the event that the material has been completely severed at the cutting-off point. A discrepancy between the specified and the actual relative rotation is interpreted as a system failure due to the presence of a material link at the cutting-off point, whereupon a corresponding error signal is triggered.