Motorized spindle is one of the core parts of high-speed machine tool, to a great extent, its thermal characteristics determine the thermal stress and thermal deformations, and therefore the research on thermal characteristics is of great significance to increase the accuracy of high-speed machine tool. The motorized spindle is modeled and its thermal characteristics analysis by finite element method is done using ANSYS software, in the foundation of analyzing its configuration and heat transfer. The variation regularity of its temperature-rise and temperature field is also summarized. Thereby it provides a powerful theoretical basis for reducing temperature-rise, calculating thermal deformations and improving working conditions.The Development of high-speed spindle technology is strategically critical to the implementation of high speed machining. However, the built-in motor introduces additional mass to the spindle shaft, besides, since it's very high working speed, some high-speed rotational effects, including centrifugal forces and gyroscopic moments on the spindle shaft can't be neglected in the analysis as is done in conventional spindle, thus complicating its mechanical-dynamic behaviors. Thus an review is given in this paper. © 2015 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.