Thermal error control method based on thermal deformation balance principle for the precision parts of machine tools

A new thermal error control method based on the thermal deformation balance principle is suggested to control the thermal error of a precision machine tool’s functional parts, which negatively affects processing precision. The compensation of the thermal expansion of metal by the thermal contraction of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs), which has a negative linear expansion coefficient, lies behind this method. The metal structure is bonded with CFRP bandage and thermoelectric modules to achieve the temperature difference between the metal and the CFRP, thereby realizing the same thermal deformation. The heat transfer channel in the compensation system for thermal deformation is designed by the structural topology design method to distribute the heat evenly. Experimental and numerical simulation results show that the suggested approach reduces thermal displacement by 93% compared with the metal structure without the CFRP bandage. The suggested method can be applied to thermal deformation compensation for various high-precision equipment, including coordinate measuring machines, aerospace equipment, and optics and optical instruments.