Device for controlling a machine tool slide

A device for controlling the rapid traverse and the feed of a machine tool slide has a directional control valve as a directional valve connected between a pump (3) and a supply container (1) on the one side and a double-acting operating cylinder (11) on the other side, a pressure valve (9, 14) as a counter-holding valve, a flow regulator, formed from a pressure balance and a measuring orifice, for establishing the feed rate, and a directional control valve for switching the rapid traverse on and off. In order to control the operating cylinder by means of a single manipulating valve, both directional control valves are replaced by a single proportional valve (6), the control spool (19) of which has a stroke area (b and d) for the feed and a stroke area (a and e) for the rapid traverse, the stroke area for the feed together with the valve-housing part accommodating it forming a measuring orifice. The pressure balance (5) is arranged between the pump and the proportional valve. The pressure valve (9, 14) is arranged between the operating cylinder (11) and the proportional valve. A non-return valve (12, 16) opening in the direction of the operating cylinder is connected in parallel with the pressure valve (drawing).