The paper presents a rule based expert system, developed to predict the necessary setups as well as the fixturing points and the corresponding clamping devices, necessary to support a prismatic part during milling. The procedure is conducted in two steps. Initially, the geometrical and topomorphical information including all the machining features of a prismatic part are recognized and introduced into the developed expert system. In the first step the expert system determines the essential setups needed to machine the part on a particular machine, while in the second step the prospective clamping edges are located and the possible clamping points are determined. Moreover, the developed system regarding the cutting data, the specifications of the available supporting devices, and the geometry of the machine tool used, defines the required standard clamping and supporting structural elements, needed to support the part during milling.
