This paper reports on the progress of an ongoing research project to investigate the feasibility of using artificial neural networks to shorten the time required for machinability testing. A neural network model is used to predict the cutting tool life for a given material. A short term test has been developed whose responses provide the input to the neural net. The results of the longterm tests, ISO 3685, are used together with the short-term test data for supervised training of the neural networks developed in this research.