Using general commercial software, a coupled thermo-mechanieal plane strain larger deformation orthogonal cutting model is developed on the basis of updated Lagrangian formulation in this paper. The workpiece is oxygen free high conductivity copper ( OFHC copper), its flow stress is considered as a function of strain, strain rate and temperature to reflect its realistic changes in physical properties. In order to take into account the cutting edge radius effects of the single crystal diamond tool, rezoning technology is introduced into this simulation model. Diamond turning process is simulated from the initial stage to the steady stage of chip formation, and the distribution of temperature, equivalent stress, residual stress, strain rate and shear angle are obtained. The simulated principal force is compared with published experiment data and they are found to be in good agreement with each other, but poor for thrust force due to no consideration of elastic recovery for machined surface in the elastic-plastic material model.