A new approach is proposed for the on-line measurement of the maximum peak-to-valley roughness,Rmax, of a finished-turned surface in the feed direction. The method is based on solving the inverse problem of light scattering by using a linear least-square estimate of the angular scattered light pattern reflected from a surface. A laser system has been developed to capture the light reflected under different cutting conditions. The effects of the ambient room light as well as the workpiece's rotational speed and methods for thier compensation are also discussed. Good correlation was found between the optical and stylus-measuredRmax.