Abstract: Conventional methods for reprofiling profiles of wheel sets by lathe machining predominantly produce continuous chips which interfere with the operating process, which can cause damage to the machine and which require continuous attention on the part of the operating personnel. The production of short fragmented chips through the use of suitable cutting edge geometry is impossible because of the continuous change of the cutting data during the reprofiling of such work pieces. In order to eliminate this problem, the profile is faced off or turned through the alternating use of hard-metal cutting materials and heavy-duty cutting materials and by adapting the cutting data to the cutting material then in use, wherein the heavy-duty cutting material is used in those profile regions in which a shock or sudden load on the cutting material is not expected, while the hard-metal cutting materials are used in the remaining regions.