Abstract: A machining information determination system and method for operating the same in which control data and optimum machining information of a machine tool can be determined automatically from the comparison of a model having the shape of a workpiece before machining and a model having the shape of the workpiece after machining. A CAD apparatus creates before- and after-machining workpiece shape information based on before- and after-machining models of the workpiece. Information regarding the material of the workpiece and stage of machining to be applied to the workpiece is entered via an input unit. Based on the information from the CAD apparatus and the input unit, a machining determination apparatus determines the optimum machining information for machining the workpiece. The optimum machining information and the information from the CAD apparatus is inputted into a CAM apparatus, which creates NC data, applied to the workpiece via a machine tool.

Abstract: Data stored in a data base (21) includes crisp numbers expressed by definite numerical values, fuzzy numbers expressed by attaching "about" to numerical values, and fuzzy labels represented by fuzzy language. Status codes are used to distinguish these types of data, and data is stored in the data base (21) upon attaching the status codes thereto. Membership function data accessed using data and the status codes attached thereto is stored in a fuzzy data dictionary (22). When a retrieval condition has been given, data related to this retrieval condition is retrieved in the data base (21). If this data is data involving a fuzzy concept, the membership function data corresponding to this data is extracted from the fuzzy data dictionary (22). Fuzzy-retrieval execution means (20) calculates the degree of membership of the membership function data with respect to the retrieval condition and outputs the result through an output unit (24).

Abstract: A threshold value is set in advance for each of a number of conclusions. Possibility values of conclusions obtained from an approximate reasoning apparatus are compared with the corresponding threshold values, and a conclusion whose possibility value is equal to or greater than its threshold value is outputted (displayed). When information indicative of an error is entered with regard to a conclusion whose possibility value is equal to or greater than the corresponding threshold value but which actually does not hold true, or a conclusion whose possibility value is less than the corresponding threshold value but which actually does hold true, the threshold value concerning the conclusion that has produced the error is revised dynamically. The weights of conclusions are set. By multiplying the possibility value of a conclusion from an approximate reasoning apparatus by the weight set for this conclusion, a score is calculated for every conclusion.