<p>A tracing milling machine having a conventional tracing milling machine controller for controlling a servo movement of the machine is provided with a novel tracing command controller for automatically generating tracing commands to be supplied to the tracing milling machine controller for the purpose of enhancing automation of the tracing milling operation of the machine. The tracing milling machine is further provided with an automatic tool changer, for enabling an automatic tool change of a cutting tool attached to a spindle of the machine during the automated tracing milling operation of the machine.</p>