Ball nose end mills are usually applied during 5-axes machining of high functional parts especially in the aerospace industry. The systematical study of the relationship between process forces and kinematics, surface topography and subsurface properties is fundamental to ensure a high surface integrity. This paper deals with the topography of machined surfaces of TiAl6V4 parts by means of ball nose end milling. The machined surface has been analyzed and the kinematic topography, influenced by the process parameters and the geometry of the cutting tool, has been computed. By subtracting the surface measurements from the computed topography, the stochastic topography of the machined surface, e.g. roughness and cracks, can be determined. Furthermore, an approach is given for predicting the stochastic topography based on the process forces during machining of TiAl6V4. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.