Optimization Control Method of Intelligent Cooling and Lubrication for a Geared Spindle

The heat generated by the transmission system in the gear-driven spindle module of the machine tool not only influences the overall temperature field but also induces an excessive rise in temperature of gears tooth flank or rolling contact surface resulting in thermal deformation. In this study, high torque geared spindle was adopted to investigate a cooling control method, and an effective geared spindle cooling control method was proposed and tested. The controller of the cooling system received gear spindle load, rotational speed, and temperature of spindle to adjust the cooling flowrate, and the gas temperature of oil gas lubrication. Under spindle speed of 2000 rpm, the thermal deformations of X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis with cooling control are reduced by 43.7%, 46.8%, and 18.6%, respectively. The cooling control method not only can effectively control the rise in temperature of the meshing and contact friction area of the transmission system but also enables the transmission components and bearings of the geared spindle to achieve optimal cooling and lubrication effects.