A GENERAL METHODOLOGY IS INTRODUCED FOR RELATING SYSTEMATIC MACHINE TOOL ERRORS TO THE DIMENSIONS AND FORM ERRORS OF A MACHINED WORKPIECE. A MATHEMATICAL MODEL IS UTILIZED FOR REPRESENTING THE MACHINE TOOL ERRORS INHERENT TO THE MACHINING PROCESS. THE MODEL COMPUTES THE RELATIVE ERROR BETWEEN THE TIP OF THE CUTTING TOOL AND THE IDEAL CONTACT POINT ON A WORKPIECE. THIS PROCESS IS REPEATED FOR A NUMBER OF POINTS ON THE NOMINAL GEOMETRY OF A WORKPIECE.
