In machine tools, frictional force exists between the table and the guideways, and in ballscrews. In this paper, feed motor current measured by a hall sensor is used to calculate the motor torque. Some frictional phenomena are studied in feed drive systems, such as the relationship between feedrate and frictional torque, and chip cover effects on frictional torque. Considering frictional phenomena, the relation- ship between the feed froce and the feed motor current id obtained. Feed force can be well estimated by feed motor current measurement considering frictional behavior. The relationship between the cutting force and the feed motor current is slightly different between up milling and down milling due to the effect of y direc- tional cutting force on frictional torque.