Thermal Investigations on a CNC Lathe Fitted with a Dynamically Enhanced Steel-Reinforced Epoxy Granite Bed

Polymer concrete or epoxy granite is becoming more popular for beds, bases, and other structures of precision machine tools, owing to its excellent damping characteristics. To realize the same static rigidity as that cast-iron structures, steel-reinforced (SREG) are being used. The vast differences in thermal properties steel (EG) likely cause higher magnitudes error. This work aims investigate behaviour a computerized numerical control (CNC) lathe built with novel dynamically enhanced SREG bed compare performance cast iron bed. Experimental investigations have been carried out under cross-feed (CF) drive idle running conditions determine TCP deformation. results reveal error CNC 1.68 times (CI) at 20 ºC 1.8 40 environmental temperature variation chamber (ETVC) conditions. It could be identified heat generated CF conducted guideways embedded bed, but further transfer EG portion impeded, hence accumulation occurs leads magnitude experimentally validated model used extend study effect longitudinal feed (LF) combined cross drives, on lathe.