This study focuses on development of a finite element model for analysis of thermal characteristics of a direct-connection spindle of a machining center by joint simulation of heat transfer and thermal deformation. Two finite element analyses were carried out procedurally for heat transfer, first, to identify temperature distribution of components of the spindle and then for thermal deformation to identify their structural behavior based on the temperature distribution. It was assumed that the heat transfer between a component revolving and the surrounding air is identical to that between a flat plate and the running air on it and the heat transfer is based on a uniform surface heat flux for turbulent flow. The results from the analyses were compared with those from experiments to validate the finite element model.