Machine tool distortion estimation due to environmental thermal fluctuations – a focus on heat transfer coefficient

Thermally induced errors have been approached in multiple ways due to the influence these have over the positional accuracy of a machine tool. Here, approaches regarding environmental thermal fluctuations surrounding a machine tool remain to be explored in detail. These fluctuations have been explored in terms of the heat transfer coefficient and thermal radiation of the machine shop walls, as well as in terms of seasonality and varying thermal gradients. This paper presents additional considerations regarding environmental temperature perturbations, as heat transfer coefficient fluctuations in the machine shop were thought to play a significant role in machine tool thermal deformation a broader term for these phenomena, environmental thermal fluctuations, was defined and evaluated. Specifically, an environmental thermal data survey of a machine shop was explored. This data was then applied to a NC milling machine and a CNC jig borer FEM analyses and compared to experimental data. FEM simulations were then used to demonstrate that convection regimes and heat transfer coefficient values at a machine shop have a significant influence over machining precision. Here, under maximum and minimum heat transfer coefficient values, the NC milling machine and CNC jig borer simulations results showed an error of cut difference up to 36.5 μm and 18.17 μm, respectively. In addition, as the importance of the heat transfer coefficient was highlighted, considerations regarding machine tool surface color were deemed relevant and were described.