Rotary　table　is　a　basic　component　of　multi-axis　CNC　machine　tool,　and　its　geometric　error　has　significant　impact　on　the　machining　accuracy.　Taking　the　measurement　and　identification　of　four　location　errors　and　six　motion　errors　of　rotary　table　axis　as　the　target,　a　simple　and　efficient　comprehensive　error　on-machine　measurement　scheme　is　designed　using　the　standard　balls　and　touch-trigger　probe.　A　multiple-step　identification　method　based　on　comprehensive　error　is　proposed.　Firstly,　the　standard　balls　are　installed　at　different　altitudes　and　locations　on　the　rotary　table　to　construct　the　measurement　point　system.　The　deviations　of　the　ball　centers　are　measured　by　a　high　precision　touch-trigger　probe　installed　on　the　machine　spindle　at　diffident　rotation　angles.　Secondly,　the　multiple-step　identification　models　of　the　four　location　errors　and　six　motion　errors　are　constructed　based　on　the　small　error　theory　and　homogeneous　transformation　principle　one　by　one,　and　all　the　error　terms　are　identified.　The　experiment　verification　and　practical　application　were　carried　out　on　the　machine　tool　with　rotation　axis.　The　results　show　that　the　absolute　residual　error　is　less　than　0.004　mm　when　comparing　the　predicted　value　calculated　from　the　identified　result　with　that　the　actual　value　measured　by　the　touch-trigger　probe.　The　absolute　residual　error　is　less　than　0.006　mm　when　comparing　the　measured　result　obtained　with　the　touch-trigger　probe　and　corrected　using　the　identified　error　with　the　measurement　result　using　3D　coordinate　measuring　machine.　The　measurement　results　show　that　the　proposed　method　meets　the　requirement　of　high　precision　industrial　applications.　The　method　is　simple　to　operate,　consumes　less　machine　time,　has　high　identification　precision,　and　is　suitable　for　the　quick　and　short　cycle　calibration　on　machining　site.　©　2015,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.