Abstract The response of a cutting force dynamometer system is often complicated by resonances, in or near the pass band of the instrument, and by cross sensitivity between nominally orthogonal measurement axes. Transfer functions are frequently used to describe such a response, but are difficult to determine by sinusoidal excitation methods. Transient loading techniques, however, give this information much more rapidly and this aids the development of instruments with suitably placed first resonances. It may then be possible to assume that the transfer functions are constant and frequency independent and to correct simply for the effects of cross sensitivity.