Dr. Hanafy M.

Omar
1
Chapter 5: Cams
CAM - Definition
A cam is a machine element used to drive another element,
called a follower, through a specified motion by direct contact.
Cam-and-follower mechanism are simple and inexpensive ,
have few moving parts, and occupy very little space.
Furthermore, follower motion having almost any desired
characteristics are not difficult to design.
For these reasons, cam mechanisms are used extensively in
modern machines.
Cam
Follower
Examples for cam

In IC engines to operate the inlet and exhaust valves
Classification of CAM Mechanism
Based on the basic shapes


(a)plate cam,
(b) wedge cam
(c) barrel cam
(d) face cam.
Classification of CAM Mechanism
Based on modes of Input / Output motion
Rotating cam Translating follower

Rotating cam Oscillating follower

Translating cam Translating follower


Rotating cam Translating follower
Rotating cam oscillating follower
Translating cam Translating follower
Classification of followers
According to the shape of follower
Knife edge follower
Roller follower
Flat faced follower
Spherical faced follower

Knife edge follower
Roller follower
Flat faced follower
Spherical faced follower
According to the path of motion
of follower
a) Radial follower
b) Offset follower
When the motion of the follower is along an axis
passing through the centre of the cam, it is known as
radial followers.
The above figures are examples of this type.
Radial follower
Offset follower
When the motion of the follower is along an axis away from the
axis of the cam centre, it is called off-set follower. Above figures
are examples of this type.
CAM Nomenclature
Cam profile: The outer surface of the disc cam.
Base circle : The circle with the shortest radius from the cam center
to any part of the cam profile.
Trace point: It is a point on the follower, and its motion describes
the movement of the follower. It is used to generate the pitch curve.


CAM Nomenclature
Pitch curve : The path generated by the trace point as the follower is
rotated about a stationery cam.
- Prime circle: The smallest circle from the cam center through the
pitch curve
- Stroke: The greatest distance or angle through which the follower
moves or rotates


Motion of the Follower
As the cam rotates the follower moves upward and downward.
The upward movement of follower is called rise (Outstroke)
The downward movement is called fall (Returnstroke).
When the follower is not moving upward and downward even
when the cam rotates, it is called dwell.
Displacement diagram for a cam
Displacement is the distance that a follower moves during
one complete revolution (or cycle) of the cam while the
follower is in contact with the cam.
It is the plot of linear displacement, y() of follower versus
angular displacement () of the cam for one full rotation of
the cam.
y=y()

Types of follower motion
1. Uniform motion ( constant velocity)
2. Simple harmonic motion
3. Uniform acceleration and retardation motion
4. Cycloidal motion
Uniform motion (constant velocity)
Since the follower moves with uniform velocity during its rise and fall, the
slope of the displacement curve must be constant as shown in figure
This motion is not useful for the full lift because of the sharp corners
produced at the boundaries wit the other segment of the displacement
curve.
To solve this problem, the modified displacement curve is used
Displacement diagram
Modified Uniform motion (constant velocity)
The sharp corners are eliminated in the modified uniform motion
displacement diagram
Displacement diagram
Cam Profile Design
It is required to determine the exact
shape of a cam surface required to
deliver a specified follower motion.
We assume here that the required
motion has been completely determined
graphically as well as analytically.
Let us address the case of plate cams.
Basic Principle
In constructing the cam profile, we employ the principle of
kinematic inversion, imagining the cam to be stationary
and allowing the follower to rotate opposite to the
direction of cam rotation.
Taking the cams with knife-edge follower for example, the
locus generated by the trace point as the follower moves
relative to the cam is identical to cam surface. By this way
cam surface can be figured out.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
For the case of reciprocating knife-edge follower
As shown in left figure,
the displacement
diagram of the follower
is given, y=y (u).
Construct the plate cam
profile.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating knife-edge follower)
Step1: divide the displacement-
diagram abscissa into a number
of segments.
Step2: divide the prime circle
into corresponding segments.
Step3: transfer distances, by
means of dividers, from the
displacement diagram directly
onto the cam layout to locate
the corresponding positions of
the trace point.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating knife-edge follower)
Step4: draw a smooth curve through these points. The
curve is just the required cam profile.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating knife-edge follower)
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating offset roller follower)
As shown in left figure, the displacement diagram of
the follower is given, y=y (u).
Construct the plate cam profile.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating offset roller follower)
Step1: construct the prime
circle with radius r0.
Step2: construct the offset
circle with radius equal to
the amount of offset e.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating offset roller follower)
Step3: divide the
displacement-diagram abscissa
into a number of segments.
Step4: divide the offset circle
into corresponding segments
and assign station numbers to
the boundaries of these
segments.
Step5: construct lines tangent
to the offset circle from these
station, dividing the prime
circle into corresponding
segments.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating offset roller follower)
Step6: transfer distances,
by means of dividers, from
the displacement diagram
directly onto the cam
layout to locate the
corresponding positions of
the trace point, always
measuring outward from
the prime circle.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating offset roller follower)
Step7: draw a smooth curve
through these points. The
curve is just the required cam
profile.
Step8: draw the roller in its
proper position at each station
and then construct the cam
profile as a smooth curve
tangent to all these roller
positions.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating offset roller follower)
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating flat-face follower)
As shown in left figure,
the displacement
diagram of the follower
is given, y=y (u).
Construct the plate cam
profile.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating flat-face follower)
Step1: divide the
displacement-diagram
abscissa into a number of
segments.
Step2: divide the prime circle
into corresponding segments.
Step3: transfer distances from
the displacement diagram
directly onto the cam layout.
Step4: construct a line
representing the flat face of
the follower in each position.
Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating flat-face follower)
Step5: construct a
smooth curve tangent to
all the follower
positions. This curve is
the required cam
profile.
Low Speed Cams
This cams are sometimes composed of a combination of curves, such as
straight lines are circular arcs, which can be produced easily by
machine tools (easy to manufacture), as shown in following two cams.
In these cams, the acceleration changes abruptly at each of the tangency
points because of the instantaneous change in the radius of curvature of
the cam profile.

Graphical Layout of Cam Profiles
(the case of reciprocating flat-face follower)
High Speed Cams
Although cams with discontinuous acceleration
characteristics have sometimes been accepted to save
cost in low speed applications
However, for high speed applications (to increase the
productivity), such cams exhibit major problems like
high noise and wear
To overcome these problems, It is extremely important
that not only the displacement and the velocity curve
but also the acceleration curve be made continuous for
the entire motion cycle.
2
2
) (
,
) (
), (
u
u
u
u
u
d
y d
d
dy
y
must be
continuous
Note
2
2
2
2
2
,
u
e
u
e
d
y d
dt
y d
d
dy
dt
dy
= =
Parabolic Motion
If the rotation angle of the cam is , the displacement
diagram equation for a parabolic motion of rise L is
given by
First Half Rise: second Half
2
2
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
u
L y
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
1 2 1
|
u
L y
After differentiation we found that
First Half
| u
u
| u
L
d
y d
L
d
dy
4
4
2
2
=
=
Second Half
| u
|
u
| u
L
d
y d
L
d
dy
4
1
4
1
2
2

=
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
There is a discontinuity in the velocity and
acceleration
Parabolic Motion
Displacement diagram and derivatives for full-
rise parabolic motion
Simple Harmonic Motion
Displacement diagram and derivatives for
full-return simple harmonic motion
Displacement diagram and derivatives for
full-rise simple harmonic motion
The velocity and acceleration are continuous
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
tu
cos 1
2
L
y
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
|
tu
cos 1
2
L
y
Rise Return