The invention relates to milling methods for the production of structural components from materials that are difficult to machine by chip-cutting. In the method, a milling tool is moved along at least one defined tool path or milling path for the milling. According to the invention, at least one collision contour is defined in addition to the or each tool path, whereby the position or orientation of the milling tool relative to the or each collision contour is monitored, and whereby the position or orientation of the milling tool is changed and/or an error message is generated, if at least one of the collision contours is damaged by the milling tool (FIG. 1).