Method and device for monitoring processes

In a method for monitoring processes or machines, particularly machine tools, by means of a microcomputer, the switching and interval times characteristic of the process or in the operating sequence of the machine are measured and automatically stored in the computer and compared with nominal times, these nominal times preferably being programmed into the computer in a learning process. When deviations occur which exceed predetermined time deviations, the computer automatically intervenes in the process or operating sequence, for example switches off certain functions. A device for carrying out the method exhibits a microcomputer (3) which is connected via digital data input channels (6, 7) for time measurement signals, to the relevant machine or its control device and can act on the latter by a digital output channel (8). Other characteristic process data such as pressure, temperature or the like, after having been converted into digital values, can be fed into the computer via further analog data input channels and taken into consideration in setting the nominal time. Other data which cannot be input automatically can be input manually via an input/output unit (9). This unit (9) can be used for registering time deviations between time measurement signals and nominal times which exceed a predetermined measure, indicating instantaneous states of the process or operating sequence, and the like. A preferred field of application of the method and of the device according to the invention is the monitoring of numerically controlled machine tools.