ME2104

Kinematics of
Machines
SOUMYAJIT ROY
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
NIT Rourkela
CAM/Classification of CAM
A cam is a mechanical member used to impart desired motion to a follower by direct
contact. The cam may be rotating or reciprocating whereas the follower may be rotating,
reciprocating or oscillating.

A cam and the follower combination belong to the

category of higher pairs. The necessary elements of a
cam mechanism are
• A driver member is known as the cam.
• A driven member is called the follower.
• A frame which supports the cam and guides the
follower

Cams are classified according to

1. Shape,
2. Follower movement, and
3. Manner of the constraint of the follower.
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Classification of CAM/
According to shape
Wedge and Flat Cams:

A wedge cam has a wedge W

which, in general, has a
translational motion. The
follower F can either translate
(a) or oscillate (b).

A spring is, usually, used to

maintain the contact between
the cam and the follower.
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Classification of CAM/
According to shape (contd…)

Radial or Disc Cams:

A cam in which the follower moves

radially from the centre of rotation of
the cam is known as a radial or a
disc ca. Radial cams are very
popular due to their simplicity and
compactness.

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Classification of CAM/
According to shape (contd…)

Spiral Cams:

A spiral cam is a face cam in which a

groove is cut in the form of a spiral as
shown in Fig. The spiral groove
consists of teeth which mesh with a
pin gear follower. The velocity of the
follower is proportional to the radial
distance of the groove from the axis
of the cam.

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 Classification of CAM/
According to shape (contd…)
Cylindrical Cams:

In a cylindrical cam, a cylinder which has a circumferential

contour cut in the surface, rotates about its axis. The follower
motion can be of two types as follows:

In the first type, a groove is cut on the surface of the cam and
a roller follower has a constrained (or positive) oscillating
motion [Fig.(a)].

Another type is an end cam in which the end of the cylinder is

the working surface (b). A spring-loaded follower translates
along or parallel to the axis of the rotating cylinder.
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Classification of CAM/
According to shape (contd…)

Conjugate Cams:

A conjugate cam is a double-disc cam, the

two discs being keyed together and are in
constant touch with the two rollers of a
follower. Thus, the follower has a positive
constraint. Such a type of cam is preferred
when the requirements are low wear, low
noise, better control of the follower, high
speed, high dynamic loads, etc.
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Classification of CAM/
According to shape (contd…)
Globoidal Cams

A globoidal cam can have two types of surfaces,

convex or concave. A circumferential contour is
cut on the surface of rotation of the cam to impart
motion to the follower which has an oscillatory
motion.

The application of such cams is limited to

moderate speeds and where the angle of
oscillation of the follower is large.
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Classification of CAM/
According to shape (contd…)

Spherical Cams

In a spherical cam, the follower

oscillates about an axis
perpendicular to the axis of rotation
of the cam. Note that in a disc cam,
the follower oscillates about an axis
parallel to the axis of rotation of the
cam.

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Classification of CAM/
According to Follower Movement

The motions of the followers are distinguished from each other by

the dwells they have.

A dwell is the zero displacement or the absence of motion of the

follower during the motion of the cam.

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Classification of CAM/
According to Follower Movement (contd…)
Rise-Return-Rise (R-R-R)

In this, there is alternate rise and return of the follower

with no periods of dwells. [Fig. (a)]

Its use is very limited in the industry. The follower has

a linear or an angular displacement.
Dwell-Rise-Return-Dwell (D-R-R-D)

In such a type of cam, there is rise and return of

the follower after a dwell. [Fig. (b)]

This type is used more frequently than the R-R-R

type of cam. 11
Classification of CAM/
According to Follower Movement (contd…)

Dwell-Rise-Dwell-Return-Dwell (D-
R-D-R-D)

It is the most widely used type of

cam. The dwelling of the cam is
followed by rise and dwell and
subsequently by return and dwell as
shown in Fig. (c).

In case the return of the follower is by

a fall, the motion may be known as
Dwell-Rise-Dwell (D-R-D)
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Classification of CAM/
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 times.

The cams can be classified according to the manner in which

this is achieved.

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Classification of CAM/
According to Manner of Constraint of the Follower (contd…)

Pre-loaded Spring Cam

A pre-loaded compression spring is

used for the purpose of keeping the
contact between the cam and the
follower

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Classification of CAM/
According to Manner of Constraint of the Follower (contd…)

Positive-drive Cam

In this type, constant touch between the

cam and the follower is maintained by
geometric constraints.

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Classification of CAM/
According to Manner of Constraint of the Follower (contd…)

Gravity Cam

If the rise of the cam is achieved by the rising

surface of the cam and the return by the
force of gravity or due to the weight of the
cam, the cam is known as a gravity cam.

However, these cams are not preferred due

to their uncertain behaviour.

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Types of Followers

Cam followers are classified according to the

1. Shape,
2. Movement, and
3. Location of line of movement.

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Types of Followers/According to Shape
Knife-edge Follower

It is quite simple in construction.

However, its use is limited as it produces a great wear

of the surface at the point of contact.
Roller Follower

It is a widely used cam follower and has a cylindrical

roller free to rotate about a pin joint

At low speeds, the follower has a pure rolling action,

but at high speeds, some sliding also occurs.

In case of steep rise, a roller follower jams the cam

and, therefore, is not preferred.
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Types of Followers/According to Shape (contd…)

Mushroom Follower

A mushroom follower has the advantage that

it does not pose the problem of jamming the
cam.

However, high surface stresses and wear

are quite high due to deflection and
misalignment if a flat-faced follower is used
[Fig. (a)].

These disadvantages are reduced if a

spherical-faced follower [Fig. (b)] is used
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a flat-faced follower. 19
Types of Followers/According to Movement

Reciprocating Follower

In this type, as the cam rotates, the

follower reciprocates or translates in
the guides.

Oscillating Follower

The follower is pivoted at a suitable

point on the frame and oscillates as
the cam makes the rotary motion.
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Types of Followers /
According to Location of Line of Movement

Radial Follower Offset Follower

The follower is known as a radial If the line of movement of the roller

follower if the line of movement of follower is offset from the centre of
the follower passes through the rotation of the cam, the follower is
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centre of rotation of the cam. known as an offset follower.
 Layout of Cam Profile

Draw the profile of a cam operating a knife-edge follower having a lift

of 30 mm. The cam raises the follower with SHM for 150 deg of the
rotation followed by a period of dwell for 60 deg The follower
descends for the next 100 deg rotation of the cam with uniform
velocity, again followed by a dwell period. The cam rotates at a
uniform velocity of 120 rpm and has a least radius of 20 mm. What
will be the maximum velocity and acceleration of the follower during
the lift and the return?

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Layout of Cam Profile (contd…)

Knife edge radial

follower

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 Layout of Cam Profile (contd…)
A cam with a minimum radius of 25 mm is to be designed for a knife-edge follower
with the following data:

• To raise the follower through 35 mm during 60 deg rotation of the cam

• Dwell for next 40 deg of the cam rotation
• Descending of the follower during the next 90 deg of the cam rotation
• Dwell during the rest of the cam rotation

Draw the profile of the cam if the ascending and descending of the cam is with
simple harmonic motion and the line of stroke of the follower is offset 10 mm from
the axis of the cam shaft.

What is the maximum velocity and acceleration of the follower during the ascent
and the descent if the cam rotates at 150 rpm? 24
Layout of Cam Profile
(contd…)

Knife edge offset

follower

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Layout of Cam Profile (contd…)

Draw the profile of a cam operating a roller reciprocating follower and with the
following data:

Minimum radius of cam = 25 mm

Lift = 30 mm
Roller diameter = 15 mm

The cam lifts the follower for 120° with SHM followed by a dwell period of 30°.
Then the follower lowers down during 150° of the cam rotation with uniform
acceleration and deceleration followed by a dwell period.

If the cam rotates at a uniform speed of 150 rpm CW, calculate the maximum
velocity and acceleration of the follower during the descent period.
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Layout of Cam Profile (contd…)

Radial roller follower

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Layout of Cam Profile (contd…)
The following data relate to a cam profile in which the follower moves with
uniform acceleration and deceleration during ascent and descent.

• Minimum radius of cam = 25 mm

• Roller diameter = 7.5mm
• Lift = 28 mm
• Offset of follower axis = 12 mm towards right
• Angle of ascent = 60 deg, Angle of descent = 90 deg, Angle of dwell
between ascent and descent = 45 deg.
• Speed of the cam = 200 rpm CW.

Draw the profile of the cam and determine the maximum velocity and the
uniform acceleration of the follower during the outstroke and the return stroke.
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Layout of Cam Profile
(contd…)

Radial offset roller

follower

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THANK YOU!

Soumyajit Roy
Phone:
0661 – 246 – 2540
Email:
roysoumyajit@nitrkl.ac.in