Precise modelling of machine tool drives with ball screw thermal behavior

This paper briefly describes the current requirements which machine tool ball screws must meet and indicates the need for the modelling and numerical simulation of the latter. The structure of a holistic ball screw model and ways of modelling the properties of the ball screw in a turning centre, including the moving heat sources on the guides and in the screw-nut joint, are presented. The results of computing the heating up and displacements of a preloaded screw and the screw without preload are reported. The modelled changes in motion resistance and in displacements are shown to be in agreement with the results of measuring the current drawn by the drive’s motor. It is also shown that the models represent well the real physical phenomena occurring in the ball screw during the execution of repeatable work cycles by the drive.