Abstract: Combining with practice of module division of CNC horizontal lathe， the correlation degree matrix was gotten by computing the correlation degree of subfunctions. The hierarchical clustering method was used to aggregate the distance matrix and the module division scheme was obtained. On that basis， the module division system was developed using the VB and Matlab softwares. The example design and analysis results show that the division system is effective， rapid and accurate in the module division process.

Key words: modular design, AHP, hierarchical clustering, module division, system, CNC machine tools