Electropulsing was introduced into the turning process of the AISI 304 stainless steel. The results indicate that the main cutting force, microhardness and axial roughness on machined surface are reduced dramatically under appropriate electropulsing parameters. For AISI 304 stainless steel, the electropulsing applied in turning process can improve the plastic deformation ability in cutting area, increase lubricating property and change friction state between the tool and the workpiece in the forming process of the chip. It causes the arising of plastic stripping tear based on pure shear plastic deformation and brings obvious changes on morphologies of the machined surface and the corresponding chip.