Abstract:The thermal error of the machine tool seriously affects the machining accuracy of the machine tool, so it must be controlled. When studying the thermal error of the machine tool, the thermal characteristics of the machine tool is principal to be recognized, and it can provide the model input values for the subsequent thermal error modeling. The sources of machine tool thermal errors, the methods of acquiring machine tool temperature field, the strategies of arranging temperature sensors and the common methods of optimization of temperature measurement points was mainly summarized. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of the methods in above researches are analyzed. At last, combining with the current research status, it prospects the development in future.