Machining based on strategies selected from a database

A system, comprising:

• a user interface for user interaction;
• a database;
• and
• a processor;
• wherein the system is configured to perform a method comprising the steps of:
• obtaining a model of an object to be manufactured via subtractive manufacturing;
• obtaining information including information about one or more machine tools available for manufacturing the object, and information about one or more cutting tools available for use by the one or more machine tools to manufacture the object;
• identifying, based on the model, a geometric feature to be machined as part of manufacturing the object;
• accessing a database-including strategies for machining different geometric features, the database including a plurality of strategies defining different ways of machining the identified geometric feature;
• selecting, based on the obtained information, a first strategy which only employs equipment which is currently available at the machining site, and a second strategy involving use of a cutting tool and/or fixture which is currently unavailable at the machining site;
• performing computer simulation for the one or more selected strategies first and second strategies;
• indicating to the user that machining performance may be improved via the second selected strategy, if the currently unavailable cutting tool and/or fixture is acquired;
• receiving user instructions responsive to the computer simulation;
• and
• providing based on the user instructions and a strategy of the first or second selected strategies, instructions for causing one or more machine tools to manufacture the object via subtractive manufacturing.