In　this　paper,　a　new　online　method　is　proposed　to　measure　and　identify　the　spindle　thermal　error　of　the　machining　center.　The　method　is　firstly　established　by　a　comprehensive　error　identification　model　including　geometric　and　thermal　error.　Then　the　multi-viewpoint　modeling　method　based　on　stereo　vision　is　adopted　to　obtain　the　solution　of　thermal　deformation　error　without　the　influence　of　geometric　error.　A　software　is　developed　to　online　inspect　and　compensate　the　thermal　error　of　machining　center.　The　software　is　consisted　by　four　modules,　measurement　module,　error　identification　module,　error　compensation　module　and　analysis　module.　It　can　not　only　be　able　to　quickly　identify　the　thermal　error　detection,　but　also　can　accurately　predict　thermal　error,　and　effectively　improve　the　machining　accuracy.　Finally,　the　experiment　results　show　that　the　thermal　error　values　of　the　machining　center　can　be　measured　accurately　and　identified　online　quickly　by　the　proposed　software　method.　©　2016　SERSC.