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6. CAMS
6.1 Introduction
A cam is a mechanical device used to transmit motion to a follower by direct contact. The driver is
called the cam and the driven member is called the follower. In a cam follower pair, the cam
normally rotates while the follower may translate or oscillate. A familiar example is the camshaft of
an automobile engine, where the cams drive the push rods (the followers) to open and close the
valves in synchronization with the motion of the pistons.
6.2 Types of Cams
Cams can be classified based on their physical shape.
a) Disk or plate cam (Fig. 1a and b): The disk (or plate) cam has an irregular contour to impart a
specific motion to the follower. The follower moves in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation
of the camshaft and is held in contact with the cam by springs or gravity.
Fig. 1 Plate or disk cam
b) Cylindrical cam (Fig. 2): The cylindrical cam has a groove cut along its cylindrical surface. The
roller follows the groove, and the follower moves in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the
cylinder.
Fig. 2 Cylindrical Cam
c) Translating cam (Fig. 3a and b). The translating cam is a contoured or grooved plate sliding on a
guiding surface(s). The follower may oscillate (Fig. 3a) or reciprocate (Fig. 3b). The contour or the
shape of the groove is determined by the specified motion of the follower.
Fig. 3 Translating Cam
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6.3 Types of followers
(i) Based on surface in contact. (Fig. 4)
(a) Knife edge follower
(b) Roller follower
(c) Flat faced follower
(d) Spherical follower
Fig. 4 Follower Types Based on Surface in Contact
(ii) Based on type of motion: (Fig. 5)
(a) Oscillating follower
(b) Translating follower
Fig. 5 Follower Types Based on Type of Motion
(iii) Based on line of motion:
(a) Radial follower: The lines of movement of in-line cam followers pass through the centers of
the camshafts (Fig. 4a, b, c, and d).
(b) Off-set follower: For this type, the lines of movement are offset from the centers of the
camshafts (Fig. 6a, b, c, and d).
Fig. 6 Offset followers
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6.4 Cam Nomenclature (Fig. 7):
Fig. 7 Cam Nomenclature
Cam Profile: The contour of the working surface of the cam.
Tracer Point: The point at the knife edge of a follower, or the center of a roller, or the center of a
spherical face.
Pitch Curve: The path of the tracer point.
Base Circle: is the smallest circle drawn, tangential to the cam profile, with its center on the axis of
the camshaft. The size of the base circle determines the size of the cam.
Prime Circle: is the smallest circle drawn, tangential to the pitch curve, with its center on the axis of
the camshaft.
Pressure Angle: is the angle between the normal to the pitch curve and the direction of motion of the
follower at the point of contact.
6.5 Types of Follower Motion:
Cam follower systems are designed to achieve a desired oscillatory motion. Appropriate
displacement patterns are to be selected for this purpose, before designing the cam surface. The cam
is assumed to rotate at a constant speed and the follower raises, dwells, returns to its original position
and dwells again through specified angles of rotation of the cam, during each revolution of the cam.
Some of the standard follower motions are as follows:
They are, follower motion with,
(a) Simple harmonic motion
(b) Uniform velocity
(c) Modified uniform velocity
(d) Uniform acceleration and deceleration
(e) Cycloidal motion
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(a) Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM): In Fig. 11, the motion executed by point P’, which is the
projection of point P on the vertical diameter is called simple harmonic motion. Here, P moves with
uniform angular velocity ω p, along a circle of radius r (r = s/2).
d
p
dt
Fig. 11 Simple Harmonic Motion
Displacement = y r sin r sin p t ; y m ax r ………………………………………. (i)
Velocity = y p r cos p t ; y m ax r p ……………………………………… (ii)
Acceleration = y p r sin p t p y ; ymax r p …………………………………….. (iii)
2 2 2
s = Stroke or displacement of the follower.
θo = Angular displacement during outstroke.
θr = Angular displacement during return stroke
ω = Angular velocity of cam.
o
to = Time taken for outstroke =
r
tr = Time taken for return stroke =
Maximum velocity of follower during outstroke = vo, max = rωp
s s
vo, max =
2 t o 2 o
s s
Similarly Maximum velocity of follower during return stroke = vr, max =
2 t r 2 r
2
s 2 2 s
Maximum acceleration during outstroke = ao, max = rω p (from eq. iii) =
2
2 o
2
2 to
2
s 2 2 s
Similarly, Maximum acceleration during return stroke = ar, max =
2 tr 2 2 r
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EXAMPLE:
(1) Determine max. velocity and acceleration during out stroke and return stroke if the cam
rotates at 1000 rpm in clockwise direction.
Follower type = Knife edged, in-line; lift = 50mm; base circle radius = 50mm; out stroke with SHM,
for 600 cam rotation; dwell for 450 cam rotation; return stroke with SHM, for 90 0 cam rotation; dwell
for the remaining period.
Calculations:
2N 2 1000
Angular velocity of cam = = 104.76 rad/sec
60 60
s
Maximum velocity of follower during outstroke = vo, max =
2 o
104.76 50
= =7857mm/sec = 7.857m/sec
2
3
s
Similarly Maximum velocity of follower during return stroke = vr, max =
2 r
104.76 50
= = 5238mm/sec = 5.238m/sec
2
2
2 2 s
Maximum acceleration during outstroke = ao, max = rω2p (from eq. iii) =
2 o
2
2 104.762 50
2469297.96mm/sec2 = 2469.3m/sec2
3
=
2
2
2 2 s
Similarly, Maximum acceleration during return stroke = ar, max =
2 2 r
2 104.762 50
1097465.76mm/sec2 = 1097.5m/sec2
2
=
2
2
