This paper deal with the design of noncontact In-process measurement system which measures the surface roughness during cylindrical grinding. The measuring system is extremely simple and the apparatus proposed is composed of a laser unit, photodetector and optical system. The experimental performance of the apparatus is satisfactory and good results are expected in the actual use. During operation, the surface of a workpiece Is continuously scanned by a laser beam. The experimental results show that the presence of chattering, loading and glazing can be detected sensitively along both circumferential and feed directions and the surface roughness value is obtained from the reading along the feed direction.