To　fully　disclose　the　machining　potential　of　a　newly　developed　five-axis　hybrid　kinematic　machining　unit　(HKMU),　an　equilibrium　decision-making　approach　for　cutting　parameters　is　proposed.　With　this　proposition,　a　response　surface　method-based　surrogate　model　is　developed　to　describe　the　mapping　relationships　between　three　design　objectives　and　five　cutting　parameters.　A　multi-objective　optimization　model　is　further　established　to　find　feasible　Pareto　solutions　to　cutting　parameters.　Based　on　this,　the　technique　for　order　preference　by　similarity　to　ideal　solution　(TOPSIS)　and　engineering　decision　preferences　are　adopted　to　make　the　final　decision　of　cutting　parameters.　To　illustrate　the　application　of　the　proposed　approach,　a　case　study　is　carried　out　on　face　milling　of　an　exemplary　HKMU.　The　equilibrium　decisions　of　three　customized　machining　schemes　lead　to　the　machining　duration,　the　cutting　force,　and　the　surface　roughness　reduction　by　44%,　43%,　and　9%,　respectively.　This　result　supports　that　the　proposed　equilibrium　decision-making　approach　is　able　to　find　the　best-compromised　solutions　for　cutting　parameters　of　the　HKMU.　It　is　expected　that　with　minor　modifications,　the　proposed　approach　can　be　applied　to　other　multi-axis　machining　devices　for　finding　accurate　yet　efficient　cutting　parameter　solutions.　©　2022　by　the　authors.