PurposeThis paper aims to study the effects of the processing parameters in the reciprocating magnetorheological polishing (RMRP) on abrasive particle trajectory by the simulation analysis, which provides a basis for the machining uniformity of the workpiece.Design/methodology/approachThe principle of the RMRP method is discussed, and a series of simulation analysis of the abrasive particle trajectory are performed to evaluate the effects of the workpiece’s rotational speed, the eccentric wheel’s rotational speed, the eccentricity and the frame gap on abrasive particle trajectory by using the RMRP method.FindingsThe processing parameters have a significant influence on the abrasive particle trajectory, and then the machining uniformity of the workpiece is affected. Under certain experimental conditions, the height difference of workpiece measuring points varies between 4 and 11 µm, and the height difference of equal radial measuring points is less than 1.5 µm by optimizing processing parameters.Originality/valueIn this study, the optimal processing parameters can be obtained by the simulation analysis of abrasive particle trajectory, which can replace the experimental methods to obtain the reasonable processing parameters for the machining uniformity of the workpiece. It provides references for the selection of processing parameter values in magnetorheological polishing process.