Book excerpt: Second edition. Revised and updated (January 2021). With free graphic simulation software, upgrade of procedures and images. This book is designed for students and teachers who are looking for a programming course in combination with a graphic simulation software. The course is based on the understanding of the ‘ISO Standard’ functions, i.e. the programming language at the basis of all numeric controls. The training and simulating software faithfully replicates a real numeric control on your computer. This course comprises chapters and paragraphs for both theoretical and practical learning. Paragraphs on theory contain drawings and diagrams that simplify the understanding of the text. The first practical experiences consist in the utilization of pre-drafted programs, which are useful to the participant’s initial understanding of the numeric control and its potential. Later you will learn how to write new programs with difficulty levels that are commensurate to the acquired experience. During the practical exercises the reader is constantly guided by the respective operating procedures. The learning method has been developed so that even beginners may complete the course and understand all the most complex functions and programming methods. Periodical tests are offered in order to help the students and teachers assess progress achieved or to highlight the topics for review. This is a fifty-hour course. The total number of hours necessary for the understanding of the theoretical part and for carrying out the practical exercises will always be specified at the beginning of each chapter. The course is centered on a three-axis lathe (X, Z, C) with driven tools, then the concepts applied to the programming of the lathe will be used to program a three-axis vertical mill (X, Y, Z). All the programs used during the explanations and the collection of the images contained in the book, which may be printed, viewed or displayed during the course at home or in the classroom may be downloaded from the website cncwebschool.com. Finally the book contains a list of technical terms and their translation from English into Italian and German.