Bearing load analysis and control of a motorized high speed spindle

Angular contact ball bearings are the most popular bearing type used in the high speed spindle for machining centers. Because the bearing load is increased rapidly with the raised spindle speed due to the centrifugal force and temperature raise, proper initial preload and especially operating-induced load control of the angular ball bearing is important to the rigidity, accuracy and life of the spindle. The bearing layout, preload mechanism an on-line load bearing control are discussed in this paper. The management of the centrifugal force and thermally-induced bearing loads is especially emphasized. An active bearing load monitoring and control mechanism that consists of an integrated strain-gage load cells and piezoelectric actuators has been developed and tested. This active control and monitoring mechanism on-line adjusts the bearing load according the cutting conditions. Experiments were conducted to identify the proper initial bearing preload range. Optimal preload for the lowest bearing temperature raise existed for a specified spindle speed. The optimum preload, however, should be raised when the operational speed is increased.