Machining assist system and cutting apparatus

A machining assist system comprising:

• a knowledge database configured to store various pieces of information indicative of know-how concerning a machining method and a machining facility, the various pieces of information being stored in a searchable and updatable manner, the various pieces of information including a link between a problem and factors that caused the problem and a link between the factors, and the link between the problem and the factors and the link between the factors being set using granularity;
• a display;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• receive an initial condition indicative of a machining requirement for a workpiece;
• execute a solver so as to search the database using, as a first search condition, the initial condition to extract factors from the database related to the initial condition;
• generate a recommended machining condition for machining the workpiece using the machining method and the machining facility in a form of a solution responsive to the first search condition based upon the factors from the database related to the initial condition;
• control the display to present a response related to the solution responsive to the first search condition, the response related to the solution responsive to the first search condition including first progress information indicative of a first search process and a first search route, the first search process including a plurality of the factors from the database related to the initial condition, the first search route indicating a correlation between the factors included in the first search process, and the first search process and the first search route being visually presented;
• acquire machining result information indicative of a machining result of machining performed on the workpiece;
• receive a question about the machining method and the machining facility in accordance with the machining result information;
• execute the solver to search the database by setting a second search condition based on at least the question to acquire factors and measures related to the question;
• derive a solution responsive to the second search condition, set based upon at least the question, based upon the factors and measures related to the question, the solution responsive to the second search condition being a response to the question;
• and
• control the display to present the response to the question, wherein
• the response presented on the display includes:
• a plurality of the measures each related to an answer to the question,
• a certainty factor of each of the measures, the certainty factor being indicative of a likelihood of providing the answer to the question, and
• second progress information indicative of a second search process and a second search route, the second search process including a plurality of the factors related to the question for which the solver searches the database so as to derive the measures related to the question in a form of the solution responsive to the second search condition, the second search route indicating a correlation between the factors included in the second search process, and the second search process and the second search route being visually presented in a manner that is visually distinguished from the factors, of the factors related to the question other than those that form the solution including the plurality of the factors, and their corresponding correlations.