Abstract:The cutting -tool selection is of great significance for improving the quality and efficiency of Computer Numercial Control (CNC) machining, as well as for cutting the machining cost. However, the knowledge engineering driven method offers an effective way for solving problem in cutting -tool selection. In view of the above, three key enabling techniques are included and proposed as: 1) the coding technique; 2) the reasoning and matching technique; 3) the knowledge reuse. Among which, the coding technique was used for the uniform classification and identification of cutting -tools, the reasoning and matching technique were used for the assembling of various cutting -tools, and the knowledge reuse was used for the similarity calculating technique based on historical cases for realizing the on -demand cutting -tool selection. Finally, the validity and practicability of the above method are proved via a practice case in a manufacturing enterprise.