Characteristics of a spindle bearing system with a gear located on the bearing span

The spindle bearing system is the main source of the total cutting point compliance of machine tool structures. In this work, the static and dynamic characteristics of a spindle bearing system driven by a gear located on the bearing span were investigated using the analytical and finite element methods. Based on the calculated results, a prototype spindle bearing system was manufactured and its static and dynamic characteristics were measured. From the comparison of the experimental results with the calculated results, it was found that the finite element method predicted well the static and dynamic characteristics of the spindle bearing system.     

Prediction of thermo-elastic behavior in a spindle–bearing system considering bearing surroundings

This paper presents a simulation method based on system dynamics to establish a comprehensive prediction model for the thermal and mechanical behavior of a spindle–bearing system in consideration of bearing surroundings such as assembly tolerance, geometric dimension, cooling conditions, operating conditions and thermal deformation. By introducing a lumped element into the system, not only mechanical properties but also thermal behaviors can be readily examined and predicted. The most important behavior in the spindle–bearing system is the bearing pressure, which determines the spindle characteristics and friction moment. In this study three different simplified assemblies are investigated. One is the bearing inner race–shaft subassembly that includes a negative assembly clearance, and another is the outer race–housing assembly that includes a positive assembly clearance. The third is the entire system that is composed of a rolling element bearing, an inner race–shaft subassembly and an outer race subassembly. The two subassemblies are coupled by rolling elements in which the frictional moment and heat generation vary with the assembly clearance and thermal deformation of the bearing surroundings. The new method can be applied to spindle cooling as well as the optimal thermal and mechanical design of the spindle–bearing system for various surrounding conditions. Furthermore, on the basis of the proposed model, the effect of steel and ceramic bearing materials on the thermo-elastic behavior of the spindle system was investigated.     

Effect of bearing support structure on the high-speed spindle bearing compliance

This paper investigates the effect of bearing assembly tolerance on the spindle–bearing compliance. In a high-speed spindle system, the bearing characteristics are significantly influenced by the initial assembly tolerance and the thermal deformation of the bearing support structure. In particular, in the very early stage of spindle operation, spindle–bearings could be under hazardous conditions due to the rapid change of the internal pressure resulting from the thermal deformation or the centrifugal force-oriented deformation. The bearing's internal clearance may be also changed with the operating conditions such as external load, rotational speed and operating cycle time. To determine the initial tolerance and the optimal cooling regimen, a comprehensive dynamic modeling and analysis of the high speed spindle system in terms of bearing pressure, bearing compliance and heat generation is required with consideration to those effects. Furthermore, in order to predict spindle characteristics in operation, all of these parameters should be monitored and recalculated in real time. For this purpose, simple and effective equations have been suggested, representing the bearing stiffness in accordance with the thermal deformation. Moreover, contrast to the former bearing analyses which are mostly based on the Hertzian contact model without considering the radial elastic deformation of the races, this paper presents the analytical and experimental investigations on the bearing compliance with additional consideration to both the elastic deformation of the race and the thermal deformation of the housing in terms of the bearing stiffness. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed equations, which will provide a very simplified calculation of the bearing stiffness in dynamic simulation.     

机床主轴系统静刚度分析及实验研究

为研究机床主轴系统静刚度特性,建立一种高性能加工中心主轴-轴承系统模型,该模型包括主轴转子和轴承。采用有限元法建立主轴轴系零件模型,并与轴承拟静力学模型集成得到主轴系统有限元模型,通过计算得到主轴系统3个方向的静刚度。对该机床主轴系统进行静刚度测试实验,以验证理论计算结果的正确性。研究表明:理论计算结果和实验结果具有较好一致性,因此可以有效地证明该有限元模型的准确性;此外,由于主轴系统内部存在阻尼效应及摩擦作用,卸载时静刚度大于加载时静刚度;同时其轴向静刚度存在一定非线性。     

精密卧式加工中心主轴系统热特性分析

主轴系统的热特性对精密卧式加工中心的加工精度有重要影响.以精密卧式加工中心的主轴系统为主要研究对象,采用有限元软件的热、结构耦合技术仿真计算了主轴系统达到热平衡状态后的温度场分布和热变形.然后结合主轴系统的结构特点,分析了主轴转速、轴承跨距、冷却液流量和冷却液初始温度对主轴系统热特性的影响.结果表明,主轴转速、冷却液流量和冷却液初始温度对主轴系统的温升和主轴端面跳动有重要影响,而轴承跨距的改变影响不大.     

基于热设计的立式数控铣床主轴箱多目标设计与研究

主轴箱作为主轴系统不可或缺的一部分,其热误差是影响数控机床加工精度的重要因素之一。以热设计为核心,通过结合田口法和有限元法,对主轴箱进行多目标优化设计与研究。搭建了主轴系统热态特性实验平台,以某机床厂的立式数控铣床为研究对象,获得其主轴系统的温度数据;根据实验测得的数据建立9组主轴箱优化模型;采用有限元法对温度-结构场耦合的9组模型进行仿真分析,得到各组模型的温度场分布云图和热变形分布云图,并进一步获得主轴箱结构优化结果和较优水平的主次因素参数组合。结果表明:对主轴箱热变形影响程度由高到低的因素为底板长度L、距离B、肋板宽度A、距离C;对主轴箱质量影响程度由高到低的因素为底板长度L、距离B、距离C、肋板宽度A。该研究为降低数控机床研发成本提供了参考。     

Evaluation of an internally spring preloaded four contact-points bearing for spindle units

In this paper, the concept of an internally spring preloaded four contact-points bearing for the use in high precision and high speed applications is investigated. It is designed as a compact self-contained fixed bearing unit that is free of play, easy to mount and resistant against temperature differences between the inner and outer ring. The concept of the bearing, its functionality and properties are introduced and the results of an experimental analysis of a first prototype are presented. The prototype bearing, which is based on a hybrid 7014 spindle bearing with an additional spring preload unit, was manufactured by hard turning. Its properties are compared to those of similar two and three contact-points spindle bearings. Typical requirements in modern high precision applications, e.g. machine tool spindle units, and limiting characteristics of bearings, such as displacement, stiffness, friction torque and operating temperature, are considered. Finally, the potential of the new bearing concept is discussed.     

Analysis of bearing configuration effects on high speed spindles using an integrated dynamic thermo-mechanical spindle model

This work presents the effects of bearing configuration on the thermo-dynamic behavior of high speed spindles using the comprehensive dynamic thermo-mechanical model. The dynamic thermo-mechanical model consists of a comprehensive bearing dynamic model, a shaft dynamic model and a thermal model. The thermal model is coupled with the spindle dynamic model through bearing heat generation and thermal expansion of the whole system based on the bearing configuration. Thus the entire model becomes a comprehensive dynamic thermo-mechanical model. The new thermo-mechanical model also considers a pertinent mapping between bearing stiffness and shaft stiffness matrices based on bearing configurations, so that more general cases of bearing configurations can be modeled. Based on this model, the effects of bearing orientation on the spindle dynamics are systematically described and experimentally validated. It is shown that bearing orientation has a significant effect on spindle stiffness. Finally, the effects of various bearing configurations on spindle thermal and dynamic behavior are illustrated through numerical analysis with three different spindles.     

Development of a newly structured variable preload control device for a spindle rolling bearing by using an electromagnet

For high speed and high efficiency machining, the spindle of modern machine tools simultaneously requires high speed and high stiffness characteristics, and its range of use rotation is becoming wider. Both heavy cutting at low speed and light cutting at high speed must be carried out successively in series with a single machine tool spindle. As such, many studies are being carried out on variable preload control methods that apply a preload to a spindle rolling bearing, as an alternative to the existing fixed position preload and constant pressure preload methods. This paper introduces a newly structured variable preload control device that can arbitrarily adjust the preload applied to spindles employing a rolling bearing. The device controls the coil current on an electromagnet and thereby uses the magnetic force between the electromagnet and a magnetic substance to arbitrarily control the preload applied to the rolling bearing during operation. A prototype for the variable preload control device of the proposed structure was created and a functionality test was then carried out with a test bench prepared using a load cell. The operating principle of the proposed device was verified and the interrelationships between the coil current on the electromagnet and the preload applied to rolling bearing were analyzed through the functionality test. Lastly, the fabricated variable preload control device was applied to a prototype of a spindle system, and a rigidity test was carried out. The test results confirmed that the variable preload control device operates properly and smoothly.     

基于Workbench的磨齿机主轴系统动态特性研究

主轴系统是磨齿机的重要组成部分,主轴的动态特性对齿轮的磨削精度与生产效率有着很大的影响。以磨齿机的主轴系统为研究对象,在SolidWorks中建立模型,并通过有限元软件Workbench对其进行模态分析,得出了主轴系统的固有频率和最大偏振量。分析了主轴系统在不同跨距和不同主轴材料弹性模量等条件下对主轴动态特性的影响。结果表明：1023号碳板钢的最大变形量相对较小,可作为主轴材料;模态频率随支承间距的增加而提高;主轴系统的最大变形量随支承间距的增加减小,最佳支承间距为240 mm。     

高速电主轴冷却系统试验研究

针对高速电主轴实际运行中主轴内部发热量大、温度升高等导致主轴热变形而影响电主轴加工精度问题,以某型电主轴为研究对象,通过仿真与试验结合的方法探究冷却系统冷却能力。阐述电主轴热态特性;分析螺旋和循环冷却系统的有限元仿真结果;进行冷却系统对比试验,验证仿真结果。结果表明:螺旋冷却系统稳态下整体冷却效果和冷却速率都优于循环冷却系统。研究结果为电主轴设计、优化与开发提供了一定的技术参考。     

基于ANSYS Workbench的数控车床主轴系统热-结构耦合分析

在有限元法与热应力学分析基础上,建立数控车床主轴系统的有限元模型,计算主轴系统热特性分析的边界条件.利用有限元分析软件ANSYS Workbench对主轴系统进行热-结构耦合分析,得到主轴系统的温度场分布和热变形,通过实验验证模型的正确性.同时计算不同主轴转速对主轴系统温升及热变形的影响,分析结果为主轴系统的优化设计及误差补偿提供了一定的依据.     

An investigation of the use of heat pipes for machine tool spindle bearing cooling

The results of an experimental investigation into the practicality of using a heat pipe installed in the spindle of a milling machine to remove the heat produced in the spindle bearings which is capable of causing thermal distortion and cutting error are presented in the paper. Measurements of the variation of bearing temperature with time are reported at four different spindle speeds when there was no heat pipe installed, when the heat pipe was cooled by air and when the heat pipe was cooled by an ice/water mixture. Analysis of the results by a simple heat transfer model indicates that the particular heat pipe used was capable of removing up to 160 W with a corresponding 50% reduction in the rise of the bearing temperature above the temperature of the surrounding air at steady operating conditions.     

XM2309定梁龙门铣磨床铣削主轴的有限元分析

针对定梁龙门铣磨床铣削主轴系统,应用ANSYS有限元分析软件,采用弹簧阻尼单元模拟轴承支承的方法,建立了主轴系统的有限元分析模型.依据主轴系统的典型工况条件,对主轴系统静态特性进行了分析,得出了主轴系统的静态应力及变形,结果表明主轴的静态力学性能满足设计要求.通过对主轴系统动态特性的分析,获得了主轴系统的固有频率及振型,主轴临界转速远大于其工作转速,不会发生共振.分析结果也为主轴系统的进一步优化设计提供了理论依据和指导.     

高速机床主轴－轴承系统动态性能研究

为研究主轴－轴承系统的动态性能,以某型号精密卧式加工中心主轴系统为研究对象,通过偏心质量激励法测得主轴支承轴承刚度,采用Timoshenko梁单元对主轴进行有限元建模,系统地分析了主轴离心效应、轴承预紧力对于主轴动态性能的影响,并进行了实验验证。结果表明：提高预紧力可有效增加主轴轴承刚度,提高主轴动态性能。同时证明采用有限元法计算主轴轴承的刚度是一种行之有效的方法。     

High Bandwidth Thermal Microscopy of Machining AISI 1045 Steel

A custom thermal microscope was constructed using a high-bandwidth thermal imaging system (40 megapixels/sec). The microscope was attached to a high-speed machining centre (20 thousand RPM/18.5 kW spindle) that was operated as a high-speed lathe to measure temperature distributions during orthogonal cutting of AISI 1045 steel at surface speeds of up to 605 m/min. Measurements were made for a wide range of cutting parameters and compared with finite element analysis. While the ultimate goal is to produce improved tool design, the results emphasize the need for predictive rather than interpretive simulation of the temperature fields in machining.     

Strain field analysis and sensor design for monitoring machine tool spindle bearing force

The fluctuating strain field produced by the rolling motion of the spindle bearing is analyzed by an elastic model and verified with experimental data. This strain field analysis is of considerable practical significance because of its close correlation to spindle bearing preload, cutting forces, and bearing running conditions. Based on the model, a conventional sensing scheme with strain gages mounted in a groove ground around the bearing outer ring is optimized by selecting proper sensor sizes, locations, and configurations such that signal cross-over error is minimized. In addition, the feasibility of a non-invasive sensing scheme achieved by attaching high sensitivity sensors on the outside surface of the spindle housing is studied. From the strain model, it is found that the level of strain field at the housing surface is substantially lower, and its distribution is not concentrated. Therefore, high sensitivity sensors and different sensing schemes are needed. Simulation results show that, compared with the conventional scheme, the output of this scheme requires less signal processing when the force acting on the bearing is fluctuating.     

Modeling of spindle-bearing and machine tool systems for virtual simulation of milling operations

This paper presents a general, integrated model of the spindle bearing and machine tool system, consisting of a rotating shaft, tool holder, angular contact ball bearings, housing, and the machine tool mounting. The model allows virtual cutting of a work material with the numerical model of the spindle during the design stage. The proposed model predicts bearing stiffness, mode shapes, frequency response function (FRF), static and dynamic deflections along the cutter and spindle shaft, as well as contact forces on the bearings with simulated cutting forces before physically building and testing the spindles. The proposed models are verified experimentally by conducting comprehensive tests on an instrumented-industrial spindle. The study shows that the accuracy of predicting the performance of the spindles require integrated modeling of all spindle elements and mounting on the machine tool. The operating conditions of the spindle, such as bearing preload, spindle speeds, cutting conditions and work material properties affect the frequency and amplitude of vibrations during machining.     

Modeling the machining stability of a vertical milling machine under the influence of the preloaded linear guide

The prediction of machining stability is of great importance for the design of a machine tool capable of high-precision and high-speed machining. The machining performance is determined by the frequency characteristics of the machine tool structure and the dynamics of the cutting process, and can be expressed in terms of a stability lobe diagram. The aim of this study is to develop a finite element model to evaluate the dynamic characteristics and machining stability of a vertical milling system. Rolling interfaces with a contact stiffness defined by Hertz theory were used to couple the linear components and the machine structures in the finite element model. Using the model, the vibration mode that had a dominant influence on the dynamic stiffness and the machining stability was determined. The results of the finite element simulations reveal that linear guides with different preloads greatly affect the dynamic behavior and milling stability of the vertical column spindle head system. These results were validated by performing vibration and machining tests. We conclude that the proposed model can be used to accurately evaluate the dynamic performance of machine tool systems designed with various configurations and with different linear rolling components.     

三轴卧式加工中心主轴静刚度仿真与试验研究

对卧式加工中心主轴系统静刚度进行了仿真和试验研究.研究发现:经有限元方法计算获得的结果与试验有较好的对应性;主轴静刚度在卸载时要大于加载时,卸载时主轴系统弹性恢复迟滞,并且加载曲线与卸载曲线不封闭,卸载时主轴变形恢复不到起点,进而影响加工精度.因此,提高系统刚度十分必要,可通过合理设计机床主轴结构、减小主轴悬伸量、提高传动部件单位质量刚度等方法提高切削系统刚度.