To analyze the effects of the circulation of fluids on the thermal deformations of machine tools, new simulation method is developed, which is based on the finite element method and is added the term of the circulation of fluids. This simulation method is applied to the milling machine, and the calculated values are compared with those measured. From this study the following conclusions are obtained :
(1) At the case of small circulation rate, the thermal deformations of machine tools with the circulation of fluids are simulated in fairly good accuracy by this method.
(2) By the circulation of fluids, the bending and torsional deformations of column are prevented, but thermal elongations of column are not decreased as far as the forced cooling is not adapted.
(3) The artificial cooling of circulating fluids is very effective for decreasing thermal deformations. But, when the heat generation in machine tool is large, the very large cooling ability is needed to decrease those in small level. Therefore, the decreasing of heat generation and the separation of heat sources are required.
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