Thermo-Mechanical Model and Thermal Analysis of Hollow Cylinder Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism

Abstract

Planetary roller screw mechanism (PRSM) is widely used for rapid and precise motion translation from rotary into linear motion due to its high stiffness and high position accuracy. However, a high speed PRSM drive system naturally generates significant amount of frictional heat at the contact interfaces, which causes thermal deformation and thermal error and reduces motion accuracy. Preload is usually applied to remove the axial backlash of the PRSM for achieving high accuracy and great stiffness. However, more frictional heat is produced by such preload. On the other hand, larger numbers of angular contact bearings are needed to support the heavy axial load. The friction heat generated in support bearings has also to be investigated. In order to estimate the thermal distribution and thermal error of the hollow cylinder PRSM, a thermo-mechanical model based on finite element method (FEM) is developed, where heat generation from the two main sources of the PRSM, the parameters calculation of heat transfer coefficient and other thermal boundary conditions were studied. The presented model is proven capable of investigating temperature distribution, thermal error, and cooling performances of coolants of the PRSM system.

Keywords:

• Frictional heat
• Frictional moment
• Planetary roller screw
• Thermal error

Acknowledgments

^#Communicated by Steven Velinsky.

Notes

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