Machine Tool Spindle Head Thermal Displacement Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Machine tools face accuracy deterioration due to thermal displacement and posture deformation caused by heat conduction between heat-generating and supporting portions, which are typically directly coupled with metallic bolts, leading to non-uniform temperature distribution and varying heat capacity across the supporting structure.

Innovation Solution

A machine tool design incorporating a sheet-shaped heat insulating member between the heat generating and supporting portions, with varying cross-sectional areas of contact to manage heat transfer and reduce thermal displacement by ensuring uniform temperature distribution across the supporting structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a heat insulating material is interposed between the heat generating portion and the supporting portion, then heat conduction is reduced, but it is impossible to ensure complete insulation and precision of the machine tool

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat conduction lossVSAvoidmachine tool precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A sheet-shaped heat insulating member is introduced as an intermediary between the heat generating portion (spindle motor) and the supporting portion (spindle head). This mediator blocks heat conduction paths while maintaining structural connection, preventing thermal displacement of the spindle axis without compromising machine tool precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat insulating member is designed as a sheet-shaped thin film structure that can be positioned between the heat generating portion and supporting portion. This thin film configuration effectively interrupts heat conduction while maintaining the mechanical connection and spatial relationship between components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Strength

If the heat generating portion and supporting portion are directly coupled with metallic bolts, then structural connection is ensured, but heat conduction occurs causing thermal displacement and posture deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural connection strengthVSAvoidspindle axis accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet-shaped heat insulating member serves as a mediator that replaces direct metallic contact between the heat generating portion and supporting portion. It maintains the structural connection function while eliminating the heat conduction path that causes thermal displacement and spindle axis deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal conductivity parameter is changed by introducing the heat insulating member with low thermal conductivity between the heat generating portion and supporting portion. This parameter change blocks heat flow while maintaining mechanical connection, preventing thermal distortion of the spindle axis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If heat insulating material is used between heat generating portion and supporting portion, then thermal displacement is reduced, but non-uniform temperature distribution occurs in the supporting portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal displacementVSAvoidtemperature distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The heat insulating member features local quality variations with different contact areas at different positions. The contact area between the heat insulating member and supporting portion is made smaller at locations where the supporting portion has higher heat capacity, creating non-uniform heat conduction that compensates for the non-uniform temperature distribution and achieves more uniform overall temperature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design effectively suppresses posture deformation due to thermal displacement, maintaining the accuracy of the machine tool by ensuring uniform thermal expansion and minimizing the inclination of the spindle axis.

Implementation Method 1

a sheet-shaped heat insulating member disposed between the heat generating portion and the supporting portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

the area of a part of the heat insulating member that is in contact with a part of the supporting portion having a high heat capacity is small so as to increase the amount of heat transferring from the heat generating portion to the part of the supporting portion having a high heat capacity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10272533B2Machine tool

Publication Date: 2019.04.30 FANUC LTD

AI summary

A machine tool for cutting a workpiece with a cutting tool, includes a spindle motor that generates heat, a spindle head for supporting the spindle motor, and a heat insulating sheet disposed between the spindle motor and the spindle head. The area of a part of the heat insulating sheet that is in contact with a part of the spindle head having a high heat capacity is small so as to increase the amount of heat transferring from the spindle motor to the part of the spindle head having a high heat capacity, and thereby make the temperature distribution of the spindle head uniform.