Prediction of Comprehensive Thermal Error of a Preloaded Ball Screw on a Gantry Milling Machine

Abstract

The conception of the comprehensive thermal error of servo axes is given. Thermal characteristics of a preloaded ball screw on a gantry milling machine is investigated, and the error and temperature data are obtained. The comprehensive thermal error is divided into two parts: thermal expansion error ((TEE) in the stroke range) and thermal drift error ((TDE) of origin). The thermal mechanism and thermal error variation of preloaded ball screw are expounded. Based on the generation, conduction, and convection theory of heat, the thermal field models of screw caused by friction of screw-nut pairs and bearing blocks are derived. The prediction for TEE is presented based on thermal fields of multiheat sources. Besides, the factors influencing TDE are analyzed, and the model of TDE is established based on the least square method. The predicted thermal field of the screw is analyzed. The simulation and experimental results indicate that high accuracy stability can be obtained using the proposed model. Moreover, high accuracy stability can still be achieved even if the moving state of servo axis changes randomly, the screw is preloaded, and the thermal deformation process is complex. Strong robustness of the model is verified.