Abstract: Digital signals V(K), for use in numerical control of machine tools or robots, for example, are smoothed by means of digital filters to avoid sudden load changes on the axes. As a result, different filter lengths (N') can be used during an axial movement to accommodate varying loads on the axis. This is achieved by presetting modified discontinuous signals V'(K), whose value is determined by doubling the signal difference (D), and then dividing it by the altered filter length (N') less one, in the filter when changing the filter length.

Abstract: The method enables an axial movement, in particular in the form of a pendulum motion of a numerically controlled axis to be carried out with minimal computational expenditure of time and energy. For this purpose, the pendulum profile is subdivided into the time intervals (t.sub.n-1,t.sub.n), in which different motion processes (acceleration, no velocity or constant velocity) take place. In each system clock, it is checked in which time interval (t.sub.n-1,t.sub.n), the sum of the already output system clocks (i.sub.N T) lies, so that with the corresponding, previously determined path-time equation (S.sub.n (t)), the path segments to be output by the control are calculated and can be output to the operating mechanism of the axis. A change in the tool path feedrate by means of an override setpoint selection can be effected in the fine interpolator by multiplying the system clocks (T) by a constant factor (f).