Topology optimization design of cooling water jacket structure for highspeed spindle-bearing system

Abstract

Thermal error of high-speed spindle-bearing system is the main reason affecting the machining accuracy of machine tools. Currently, traditional water jacket is commonly used to remove the heat generated by heating elements in high-speed spindle-bearing system. However, traditional water jacket has the disadvantages of a large flow resistance, uneven cooling temperature, and low heat transfer capacity. To overcome the above problems, the conjugate heat transfer topology optimization method is applied to design a new cooling water jacket. The influence of different design parameters on the topology optimization results is studied. Then the cooling flow channel is determined by the topology optimization method, and the three-dimensional model of the newly-designed water jacket is established, and the newly-designed water jacket is used to replace the traditional water jacket. Finally, thermal-fluid-solid simulation and experimental studies are carried out for high-speed spindle-bearing system to verify the topology optimization method. The results show that the average temperature of high-speed spindle-bearing system with newly-designed water jacket is 4.67 K lower than that of high-speed spindle-bearing system with traditional water jacket, and thermal deformation of high-speed spindle-bearing system with newly-designed water jacket is reduced by 8.41 % compared with that of high-speed spindle-bearing system with traditional water jacket. Moreover, replacement of traditional water jacket with newly-designed water jacket will not lead to the spindle design change, and the newly-designed water jacket is suitable for high-speed spindle-bearing system with back-to-back and fixed front-floating back bearing installations.