Machining method of a last for making shoes. The method comprises the steps of positioning of the last (1) in first fastening means (11a,11b) at the machining center (10), piercing and identification marking of it, positioning of the last (1) in second fastening means (19,20) of the center, and removal of the surpluses (4,5) of a process previous to the rough-hewn.

The machining center by numerical control (10) comprises fastening means (11a,11b,19,20) of the last (1), and a number of drills (15,17).

A method of controlling a device for machining forms, in particular shoemaking models, and including the steps of: providing a machining tool (3) rotated about an axis of rotation (4) and forming, when in motion, a toroidal machining area (10); moving the machining tool (3) in a three-dimensional space in three perpendicular directions; supporting and orienting (14) a work form (F) by rotating the form (F) about at least a first form rotation axis (A); acquiring a set of data (W) defining a reference surface for the form, and processing (100-290) the data to control operation of the machining tool (3) to remove material from the form and obtain on the form a surface conforming with the reference surface.

A modelling and finishing machine for shoe forms comprising a rotating drive head (1) and a tailpin (2), a milling head (5) operable for modelling and finishing the external surface of the form, a first clamp (8) to clamp the form between the base of the heel and the rim of the neck; a second clamp (10) to clamp the form sideways at a distal position from the forefoot thereof; a second milling head with a cutting orientation substantially orthogonal to that of said first milling head and means for back off the sledges of the rotating drive head and of the tailpin disengaging them from the form at the end of the modelling, blocking the form in the same spatial position by means of said pair of mutually orthogonal clamps. At this point, the seam-like rearmost appendix is removed by the second milling head and the toe-like foremost appendix is removed by the first milling head.