FIELD: metallurgy. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to metal processing and can be used in setting of lathe, milling and similar metal cutting machines. Processing method includes imparting to the actuator a mechanism for feeding the machine of translational motion at a given speed and a spindle of the rotary motion machine at a given rotation frequency, wherein the numerical value of the natural oscillation frequency of the machine process system and the numerical values of the forced oscillation frequencies acting on the process system at all values of the feed rate and rotation frequency according to the passport characteristics of the machine are preset. Feed rate and rotation frequency are set from the range of allowable values except for values which coincide with coordinates of the projection line, which is determined on the basis of corresponding graphical constructions in Cartesian coordinates of the function of frequency of forced oscillations and a plane, with an applicator equal to the frequency of natural oscillations. EFFECT: use of the invention increases accuracy and quality of processing, and also increases duration of failure-free operation of the machine tool.