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Types of Cam and Follower Systems

A cam and follower system uses a cam with a machined profile to impart motion onto a follower. There are three main types of cams: plate cams, face cams, and cylindrical cams. Plate cams have a profile machined onto a flat disc to move a follower vertically as the cam rotates. Face cams have a grooved profile cut into the face of a disc to move a roller follower. Cylindrical cams are drums with a profile that moves a follower as the cam rotates. Common followers include knife edges, rollers, and flat surfaces. The motion of the follower depends on the profile of the rotating cam.

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Pradeep Kumar
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230 views4 pages

Types of Cam and Follower Systems

A cam and follower system uses a cam with a machined profile to impart motion onto a follower. There are three main types of cams: plate cams, face cams, and cylindrical cams. Plate cams have a profile machined onto a flat disc to move a follower vertically as the cam rotates. Face cams have a grooved profile cut into the face of a disc to move a roller follower. Cylindrical cams are drums with a profile that moves a follower as the cam rotates. Common followers include knife edges, rollers, and flat surfaces. The motion of the follower depends on the profile of the rotating cam.

Uploaded by

Pradeep Kumar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CAMS

CAM AND FOLLOWER SYSTEM

 A cam and follower system is system/mechanism that uses a


cam and follower to create a specific motion. 
 The cam is in most cases merely a flat piece of metal that
has had an unusual shape or profile machined onto it. 
 This cam is attached to a shaft which enable it to be turned
by applying a turning action to the shaft. 
 As the cam rotates it is the profile or shape of the cam that
causes the follower to move in a particular way. 
 The movement of the follower is then transmitted to another
mechanism or another part of the mechanism.
TYPES OF CAMS
1. Plate Cam
2. Face Cam
3. Cylindrical Cam

 The plate cam is a flat disc that has had a certain shape (or
profile) machined on to it.  The follower is placed in contact
with this profile and as the cam is rotated the profile of it
translates into a particular movement of the follower usually
up and down.  This can be seen in the diagram.
 The face cam is a disc that has a groove machined into its
face and a roller follower is used to follow the groove as the
cam rotates.

 The cylinder or drum cam is a cylinder which has had a


profile machined onto it and as the cam rotates the profile
imparts a particular motion on its follower.

Types of follower:

There are three main types of follower:

1. the knife edge follower (seen in the cam and follower system
table below)
2. the roller follower (seen in the cam and follower system table
below)
3. the flat follower (seen in the cam and follower system table
below)

The table below shows three different system each containing a


different type of follower

Knife
Roller Flat
edge
follower follower
follower
KNIFE EDGE FOLLOWER

 As the cam rotates the the follower is pushed up and down. 

 There is some external force pushing the follower back


down, so that it remains in contact with the cam profile.

 The cam shown above is known as a plate cam.

ROLLER FOLLOWER

 As the cam rotates the the follower is pushed up and down. 

 There is some external force pushing the cam back down, so


that it remains in contact with the cam profile.

 The cam shown above is also known as a plate cam.

FLAT FOLLOWER

 As the cam rotates the the follower is pushed up and down.

 There is some external force pushing the cam back down, so


that it remains in contact with the cam profile.

 The cam shown above is also known as a plate cam.

 This type of follower can be found in the cam and follower


system used to open and close inlet and exhaust valves in
an engine.
Cylindrical Cam with roller follower

This cam and follower system is slightly different to the plate


cams.  This type of cam is cylindrical in shape with a profile
machined onto it.

 In cam and follower systems, the motion of the follower is


usually perpendicular to the axis around which the cam is
rotating.  Three types of motion that the follower cam
experience are;

1. Uniform velocity;

2. Simple harmonic motion;

3. Uniform accelaration and retardation.

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