1. A method for simulating a workpiece contour in a simulated milling operation, comprising the steps of: defining a coordinate system in three-dimensional space; modeling a blank workpiece in the three-dimensional space with a family of mutually parallel straight lines aligned with an axis of the coordinate system, cutting the family of straight lines with a virtual milling edge along a predetermined milling path, said cutting producing swept volumes; determining intersecting points of the straight lines with the swept volumes; and forming a surface grid from the determined intersecting points, wherein the surface grid produces the workpiece contour.