Abstract: To realize the effective integration of CAD and CAPP system,a new approach to machining feature recognition is proposed based on form-shaping capability model.Given a form-shaping function,key elements of machining process is revealed and a new concept of cutting mode is proposed.With the purpose of mapping machining surfaces to machining methods,a form-shaping capability model based on the cutting mode is established to generate machining methods for part surfaces.Aiming at improving the machining efficiency,an optimal model is established to select reasonable machining method for each surface.Surfaces that can be simultaneously machined by a common cutting tool in the same setup are then recognized as a machining feature.Finally,an example part is used to test the validity and effectiveness of the proposed approach,and the results illustrates that the approach can effectively solve some problems such as the recognition of intersecting features which are difficult for the conventional feature recognition approaches.