CAMS

Mohamed Omer
1.1 INTRODUCTION
A cam is a higher paired machine member which is
used to impart specified motion, by direct contact, to
another machine element, called follower. A cam may
also be defined a convenient device transforming one
type of motion into another. The Cam has a curved or
grooved surface which mates with the follower to
impart a specified motion to it.
ELEMENTS OF CAM:
 Cam is known as driver member
 Follower is known as driven member
 The one that supports the cam and
guides the follower is known as frame.

TYPES OF CAMS :
Cams are classified according to :
a- Shape,
b- Follower movement, and
c- Manner of constraint of the follower.
ACCORDING TO SHAPE
1- Wedge and flat cams
A wedge cam has a translational motion. The follower can either
translate or oscillate. A spring is usually used to maintain the
contact between the cam and follower.

A flat cam
In the groove,
the follower is held as shown
2- Radial / Plate cam
A cam in which the follower moves radially from the
center of rotation of the cam is known as a radial or a
disk cam. Radial cams are very popular due to their
simplicity.
3- Cylindrical cam
Here a cylinder has a circumferential contour cut in the
surface and the cam rotates about its axis. The follower
motion is either oscillating or reciprocating type. These
cams are also called drum or barrel cams.
4- End cam :-
This cam has a rotating portion of a cylinder. The
follower translates or oscillates, whereas the cam
usually rotates. The end cam is not common because the
difficulty in cutting its contour.

ACCORDING TO FOLLOWER MOVEMENT

Rise – Return – Rise
Dwell – Rise – Return – Dwell
Dwell – Rise – Dwell – Return - Dwell
ACCORDING TO MANNER OF CONSTRAINT
OF THE FOLLOWER

To reproduce exactly the motion transmitted by

the cam to the follower, it is necessary that the
two remain in touch at all speeds and at all time.
The cams can be classified according to the
manner in which this is achieved.
1- Pre-loaded spring cam
A pre-loaded compression spring is used for the
purpose of keeping the contact between the cam
and the follower.
2- Positive drive cam
In this type, constant touch between the cam and the
follower is maintained by a roller follower operating in
the groove of a cam. The follower cannot go out of
this groove under the normal working operations.

3- Gravity cam
It is simple and effective and can be used with rotating
disk or end cams if the weight of the follower system is
enough to keep it in constant contact with
the cam profile.
TYPES OF FOLLOWERS
Followers are classified according to :
a- Shape , and
b- Location of line of movement
According to shape
1- Knife-edge follower
It is consist of a follower that is formed to
a point and drags on the edge of the cam.
It is a simplest form, but the sharp edge
produces high contact stresses and wears
rapidly.

This has the advantage that it can follow

Complicated profiles.
2- Roller Follower
It is consists of a follower that has a separate part,
the roller that is pinned to the follower stem. As the
cam rotates, the roller maintains contact with the
cam and rolls on the cam surface. This is the most
commonly used follower.
This has the advantage that wear is minimized, due to the roller action
3- Flat-faced follower
It is consists of a follower that is formed with a
large, flat surface available to contact the cam. This
type of follower can be used with a steep cam motion
and does not jam. Consequently, this type of follower
is used when quick motions are required. The
frictional force are greater than those of the roller
follower because of the intense sliding contact
between cam and follower.
4- Spherical-faced follower
It is consists of a follower formed with a radius face that
contacts the cam. As with the flat-faced follower, the
spherical-face can be used with a steep cam motion
without jamming. Like the flat-faced follower, the
frictional forces are greater than those of the roller
follower.
According to Location of Line of Movement
A- Radial Follower
The follower is known as a radial follower if the line of
movement of the follower passes through the center of
rotation of the cam.
B- Offset Follower
If the line of movement of the roller follower is offset
from the center of rotation of the cam, the follower is
known as an offset follower.
TERMINOLOGY FOR RADIAL CAM
To understand different terms for radial cam, let us
consider the inversion by assuming cam to be fixed
and follower to be moving around the cam with
same angular velocity in the opposite sense.
 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: 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: The smallest circle drawn, tangential
to the pitch curve, with its center on the axis of the
camshaft.
 Pressure Angle: The angle between the normal to
the pitch curve and the direction of motion of the
follower at the point of contact.
THANKS