With the development of precision machining technology, investigating the effect of heat generation on precision machining of machine tool components and how to improve the machining accuracy and precision stability of machine tools have become the focus of current research. The internal and external environmental influencing factors and optimization methods for the control of thermal characteristics of precision machine tools were introdued in this paper. The thermal design measures used in error prevention and error compensation in modern precision machine tools were analyzed from four aspects: workshop and its machine tool thermal environment, structural design, cooling method, and thermal error compensation technology. In view of the uneven temperature distribution and poor heat transfer effect of existing machine tools, the use of peltier, carbon fiber, phase change microcapsule materials, combined with the principle of heat transfer knowledge, the future development of key technology solutions to solve the temperature rise of important parts of machine tools was proposed for reference.