Fast High-Resolution FE-based Simulation of Thermo-Elastic Behaviour of Machine Tool Structures☆

Abstract Thermally induced errors on machine tools are one of the most important error sources in precision machining. Up to 75% of the overall geometrical errors on workpieces are caused by thermal errors of the machine tool [1] . Thermo-elastic FE-analysis of larger machine tool structures results in complex models requiring a lot of computation time. Reducing the computation time is essential for design optimization as well as for control-integrated correction of thermal deformation. This work shows how a complex thermo-elastic FE model of a machine tool assembly can be reduced to a compact time-saving thermo-elastic calculation model. Application of the method introduced in this paper brings a computation time reduction by the order of 1:1000 with practically negligible loss of accuracy. This method will be verified on a frame assembly of a milling machine.