Innovative Simulation Technology for Real-Time Calculation of the Thermo-Elastic Behaviour of Machine Tools in Motion

Heat resulting from motors, moved contacts as well as cutting processes, causes time-dependent deformation of machine structures that reduces the precision of machine tools. For design optimization and especially for correction of thermal induced displacements, it is necessary to have compact models, which allow fast simulation of the thermo-elastic behaviour of the entire moving machine tool during the process. This paper presents an innovative simulation technology that permits, starting from CAD geometry through FE modelling, to come to a time-saving thermo-elastic calculation model of entire moved machine tools. Thereby, calculated temperature and deformation fields are of high geometrical resolution. Results and potentials of the new approach are demonstrated on example of a Hexapod machine tool.