Abstract: A method of controlling an operation of a copycutting apparatus including a tracer for tracing automatically a pattern and a cutting gas torch interconnected to the tracer in a given relationship. Prior to the actual working, the tracer is manually moved with respect to the pattern along a given path and stores coordinates of operational points such as a piercing point, a copy start point, a copy end point, an intermediate point, a slow down point, etc. During the actual working the stored coordinates are readout to control the movement of the tracer in such a manner that until the tracer does not reach a copy start point the copying apparatus is set in a position setting mode in which the tracer is moved under the control of the readout coordinates. After the tracer has reached the copy start point the copying apparatus is switched into a copying mode in which the movement of tracer along the pattern is controlled by detecting the pattern.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a copying apparatus which includes a tracer for tracing automatically a contour of a pattern to be copied and a working machine arranged in conjunction with the tracer in a given relationship is disclosed. At first, the tracer is moved manually with respect to the pattern to be traced to detect point data such as a working start point, a copy start point and a copy end point, and then automatically moved along the contour of the pattern to detect pattern data, while the working operation is performed. Next, the thus detected point and pattern data are stored in a cassette tape. Therefore, in case of performing the repetitive working operation for the same pattern, since the working operation can be performed in accordance with the data read out of the cassette tape, the required working operation can be effected in a simple and rapid manner.

Abstract: A method of controlling an operation of a copy-cutting apparatus including a tracer for tracing automatically a pattern and a cutting gas torch interconnected to the tracer in a given relationship. Prior to the actual working, the tracer is manually moved with respect to the pattern along a given path and stores coordinates of operational points such as a piercing point, a copy start point, a copy end point, an intermediate point, a slow down point, etc. During the actual working the stored coordinates are read out to control the movement of the tracer in such a manner that until the tracer has reached a copy start point the copying apparatus is set in a position setting mode in which the tracer is moved under the control of the read out coordinates. After the tracer has reached the copy start point the copying apparatus is switched into a copying mode in which the movement of tracer along the pattern is controlled by detecting the pattern.