In the field of modern mechanical processing, CNC vertical lathes are widely used in the processing of large and complex parts due to their advantages of high precision and efficiency. However, during the machining process, the heat generated by the machine tool can cause thermal deformation of the components, thereby affecting the machining accuracy. Therefore, thermal management technology has become the key to ensuring the accuracy of CNC vertical machining.

1、 The source of heat generation in CNC vertical lathe

During the operation of a CNC lathe, the heat mainly comes from three aspects. Firstly, during high-speed rotation of the spindle system, the friction between the bearings and the shaft neck, as well as the meshing friction generated by gear transmission, will generate a large amount of heat. Secondly, the screw nut pair and guide rail slider in the feed system also generate heat due to contact friction during movement. Thirdly, during the operation of the motor, copper loss in the windings and iron loss in the iron core will also release heat. If these heat cannot be dissipated in a timely manner, it will cause the temperature of the machine tool components to rise, leading to thermal deformation.

2、 Thermal management techniques

To reduce the impact of heat on machine tools, various thermal management techniques have been applied to CNC vertical lathes. In terms of cooling technology, circulating coolant is used to cool key components such as the spindle and motor. For example, designing a coolant channel inside the spindle to remove heat through a constant temperature coolant and control the spindle temperature rise. At the same time, auxiliary heat dissipation devices such as heat sinks and fans are used to accelerate the heat dissipation of components such as motors. In terms of insulation technology, insulation treatment is applied to the heat source area, such as wrapping insulation materials around the spindle box to reduce heat transfer to other parts of the machine tool. In addition, by optimizing the structural design of the machine tool and adopting a thermal symmetric structure, the heat is evenly distributed, reducing accuracy errors caused by thermal deformation.

3、 The impact of thermal management on machining accuracy

Good thermal management can significantly improve the machining accuracy of CNC vertical lathes. If thermal management is improper, spindle thermal deformation can cause changes in the relative position between the tool and the workpiece, resulting in roundness and cylindricity errors in the processed parts; The thermal deformation of the feed system can affect the pitch accuracy of the screw and cause dimensional deviations. On the contrary, through effective thermal management techniques, the temperature rise of key components of the machine tool can be controlled within a small range, which can maintain the stability of the geometric accuracy of the machine tool. For example, high-precision temperature sensors are used to monitor the temperature of key parts in real time and provide feedback to the CNC system. The system automatically adjusts the machining parameters based on temperature changes, compensates for thermal deformation errors, and ensures machining accuracy.

The thermal management technology of CNC vertical lathe is crucial for ensuring machining accuracy by controlling the generation, transfer, and dissipation of heat, reducing thermal deformation of machine tool components. With the continuous improvement of machining accuracy requirements, thermal management technology will continue to innovate and improve, providing a solid guarantee for efficient and high-precision machining of CNC vertical lathes.