A method for thermal performance modeling and simulation of machine tools

The development of precision machine tools requires an accurate understanding of the thermal behaviour of the tools. Therefore, by developing highly accurate machine tool thermal behaviour simulations, it can accurately forecast the functional performance of a machine tool at the prototype design stage and provide guidance on its design and performance optimization. To improve the accuracy of the thermal simulation of machine tools, it proposed whole-machine temperature field and thermal deformation modeling and a simulation method for vertical machining centers. Based on the studies of thermal–structure coupling finite-element data flow and its critical conditions, it also proposed design and computational methods for obtaining the heat-source power, when various rotational speeds, the forced convection heat transfer coefficient between a rotating surface and the air, the combined heat transfer coefficient between a stationary surface and the air/environment, and key contact surface thermal resistances were considered. Furthermore, this paper performed finite-element simulation analysis based on the constructed whole-machine thermal model, and the temperature characteristics and heat deformation mechanism/state were obtained. After comparing the simulation and experimental results, it verified the effectiveness of the finite-element simulation model and the relevant methods and confirmed that the simulation accuracy for both the temperature characteristics and the thermal deformation had been improved significantly, with a simulation error less than 10 %.