This work describes a micro-patterning or surface texturing technique on the fixed work surface using a proposed new spindle system with a rotating cutting tool controlled in real time. The proposed spindle system creates micro-sized patterns using rotating tools such as a micro-milling tool and a micro grinding wheel. The shaft of the spindle is suspended by air bearings, and an electromagnetic actuator controls the radial motion of the spindle housing instead of the shaft. This generates a micro-pattern array on the electro-less Ni-coated workpiece in the micro-milling process. A PID controller is adopted to make the system stable, and adaptive feedforward cancellation is used to effectively compensate for the run-out of the spindle system during machining. The machining results show that this compensation improves the pattern accuracy. It is expected that micro-patterning using the proposed spindle system can be applied over a large surface area. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.