The invention discloses a machining method for semicircular inserts. The machining method comprises the steps that 1, the parts, except the less half cylindrical surfaces, of semicircular insert workpieces are machined to the needed amount; 2, the two semicircular insert workpieces treated in the step 1 are installed in two installing grooves of a mandrel body, a jacking bolt is screwed into each jackscrew hole, the jacking bolts at the two ends are pre-tightened, and the two semicircular insert workpieces are installed on the mandrel body simultaneously every time; 3, the mandrel body on which the two semicircular insert workpieces are installed is clamped on a common lathe, turning is conducted on the less half cylindrical surfaces after aligning is conducted, and the moderate margin is reserved; and 4, the mandrel body and the two semicircular insert workpieces are clamped on a common cylindrical grinding machine, the less half cylindrical surface is ground to the size required by the workpieces, and then the semicircular inserts are obtained. According to the machining method, adopted tools and lathe equipment are simple, the machining cost is low, the working efficiency is high, and the finished product rate is obviously increased.