This paper presents a methodology that employs computer simulation to dynamically generate the topography of a surface machined during an intermittent turning process. The methodology is based on a mathematical model that characterizes the intermittent turning process as an alternatiing sequence of forced and free vibratory motion. The simulation of machining workpieces, with discontinuous geometries of arbitrary shape, is facilitated by representing the workpiece surface as a two- dimensional grid, with an index for each cell in the grid accounting fo' the feature boundaries. The tool vibratory motion is integrated with the tool geometric motion to form a basis for the construction of surface texture produced during the machining. The simulation model not only provides for a quantitative evaluation of the surface accuracy through a graphic visualization of the surface topography, but also provides a quantitative estimate of the roughness quality of the machined surface.