Abstract: A method includes: selecting a movement path for a moving component of a machine tool; either before or after the movement path, causing the moving component to make a first predefined movement; before the movement path, causing the moving component to make a second predefined movement; after the movement path, causing the moving component to make a third predefined movement; recording, using a computing device including one or more accelerometers, movement data resulting from the first, second and third predefined movements, and from the movement path; analyzing the movement data by finding waveforms to identify a start point, a finish point, and which one of the predefined movement paths in the set was selected; calculating timing information based on the identified start and end points, and the identified one of the predefined movement paths in the set; and determining performance limits of the machine tool based on the timing information.

Abstract: A method to control a material remover can include generating a test path to be processed by the processing circuitry to cause the material remover of the machine tool to move along a predetermined path; causing the processing circuitry to execute the test path and move the material remover along the test path; timing at least one of the performance of the processing circuitry and the movement of the material remover along the test path to generate machine tool timings; and using the machine tool timings to set limits which are arranged to subsequently be used when cutting paths are generated for the machine tool for which the test path has been generated.

Abstract: A method includes: selecting a movement path along which a moving component of a machine tool, is to be moved; before moving the moving component: causing the moving component to make a first predefined movement; recording, using a computing device including accelerometers and external to the machine tool, first movement data identifying the first predefined movement; causing the moving component to make a second predefined movement; and recording, using the accelerometers, second movement data identifying the second predefined movement; causing the moving component to be moved along the movement path; after finishing moving the moving component along the movement path: causing the moving component to make a third predefined movement; and recording, using the accelerometers, third movement data identifying the third predefined movement; calculating, using the computing device, timing information for movement of the moving component along the movement path based on the first, second, and third movement data.

Abstract: A machine tool 10 to fashion objects from blocks of material having a material-remover 16 able to move in at least two degrees of freedom and having the material 18 controlled by processing circuitry. The processing circuitry 18 determines a path along which the material-remover 16 should move, allowing the depth of a cut made by the material remover to vary. The movement of the material-remover 16 is so controlled to improve bulk material removal when compared to prior art machines.

Abstract: A machine tool 10 to fashion objects from blocks of material having a material-remover 16 able to move in at least two degrees of freedom and having the material 18 controlled by processing circuitry. The processing circuitry 18 determines a path along which the material-remover 16 should move, allowing the depth of a cut made by the material remover to vary. The movement of the material-remover 16 is so controlled to improve bulk material removal when compared to prior art machines.