Reduction of Thermal FEM Simulation Models for Online Applications on Machine Tools - SimTherm

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Uwe Heisel
• Subject Area: Metal-Cutting and Abrasive Manufacturing Engineering
• Term: from 2010 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 157640986

Thermally induced displacements continue to represent one of the main problem areas in the machine tool sector. To compensate displacements, simplified FE simulation models are developed within the context of this research project. It will be possible with these models to carry out compensating calculations online through the NC machine control in future (software in the loop). In the first funding period extensive experimental tests were conducted on machine components for the adaptation of the FE simulations. Then these tests were compared with simulation models to create exact prediction models, which are reduced in their complexity though.In the third year of the project the applicability and the scalability of the parameters, which were determined of simple structures (bearings, guide carriages and ball screws) at first, are examined on complex structures (feed drive unit). For the completion of the research project it is planned to draw up a catalogue of recommendations, summarising the basic steps for creating a thermal simulation in accordance with the information gained in this research project. This will be carried out following VDI 3633 ff. As thermal FEM simulations in accordance with today's state of the art are very costly, such a catalogue may help to increase the expenditure of time, economic efficiency and hence also the acceptance of this development method in practice. It is also expected that it will become possible in this way to simulate complex machine structures online via the control of the machine.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Dr.-Ing. Thomas Stehle