With the status that fiveaxis CNC machine tools in the advanced manufacturing industry is becoming more and more important, the precision of machine tool positioning is very important. Rotation axis error identification and compensation is an important indicator to improve the quality of parts processing. The main features of the methods of identifying the rotation axis error of the fiveaxis machine by using the club and Rtest devices at home and abroad were analyzed and compared.The identification method of the rotation axis error under different definitions was summarized.The reliability, accuracy index and feasibility of the method were used to review its application value on the fiveaxis CNC machine tools.According to the shortcomings of the identification principle, the main problems of the error identification of the rotating shaft of the fiveaxis CNC machine tool were systematically pointed out, and some suggestions for future research were put forward, which provide reference for the fiveaxis CNC machine tool rotation axis error identification.