PURPOSE: To make it possible to carry out high speed punching process by preparing imposition widths for the hole bottom, for the positioning, and for the retracting, and setting at least either the imposition width for the positioning or for the retracting larger than that for the hole bottom.

CONSTITUTION: There is no interference between a work W and a tool when the tool is between the initial point P1 and a process starting position R. Therefore, the tool may move on the X-Y plane and reaches the initial point P1 until it reaches the process starting position R from the initial point P1. Consequently, by making the imposition widths for positioning to the process position and for positioning in the retracting larger, setting the moving locus of the tool in the solid lines, the punching operation (moving of the Z axis) is started easier, and the starting of the positioning from the retracting to the next punching position is quickened. A high speed punching operation is carried out by setting the imposition widths for positioning the punching position and for the retracting larger than that for the hole bottom which requires a high positioning accuracy.