PROGRAMMABLE SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS BLOCK EXECUTION FOR A COMPUTER NUMERICAL CONTROL

A computer numerical control system for providing more efficient execution of part program blocks. The computer numerical control system selectively may be utilized in a synchronous mode in which the part program blocks are executed under control of a logic engine. This synchronous operation may be changed to an asynchronous operation, and vice versa, by providing a synchronization control parameter in the part program. Additionally, the system may be switched to an auto-synchronous mode in which part program block execution automatically is accomplished in either synchronous mode or asynchronous mode depending on the content of the data blocks being processed.