Mechanisms

Prof.dr.ing. Csaba Antonya

antonya@unitbv.ro
DATR
Mechanisms– Lecture 13

 Topics:
 Cams and followers
 Exam
MECHANISMS

2 Lecture 13
 MECHANISMS DATR

Lecture 13
DATR

 The cam and follower is a device which

can convert rotary motion (circular
motion) into linear motion (movement in
a straight line) or oscillatory motion to
rotary motion (rarely)

Cams
MECHANISMS

Followers
(valves)

4 Lecture 13
DATR
How cams work

FOLLOWER

ROLLER

CAM
A Cam is a rotating
part that changes
rotating motion
into reciprocating
motion.
MECHANISMS

CAM SHAFT

5 Lecture 13
DATR
How cams work
MECHANISMS

Lecture 13
DATR
How cams work
MECHANISMS

Lecture 13
DATR
How cams work
MECHANISMS

Lecture 13
DATR
How cams work
MECHANISMS

Lecture 13
DATR
How cams work
MECHANISMS

Lecture 13
DATR
How cams work
MECHANISMS

Lecture 13
DATR
Applications

 internal combustion engines, punch press,

paper cutting machine, fuel pump (diesel
engine)
MECHANISMS

12 Lecture 13
DATR
The cam

 The cam can have various shapes. These

are know as cam profiles.
MECHANISMS

Pear Heart Circular Drop

13 Lecture 13
DATR
The follower

 A follower is a component which is

designed to move up and down as it
follows the edge of the cam.
MECHANISMS

Knife edge Flat foot Mushroom Roller

follower follower follower follower

14 Lecture 13
DATR
Position of the follower

 Radial follower

 Offset follower
MECHANISMS

15 Lecture 13
DATR
Classification of cam mechanism

Based on modes of Input / Output motion

 Rotating cam – Translating follower
 Rotating cam – Oscillating follower
 Translating cam – Translating follower
 Cylindrical cams
MECHANISMS

16 Lecture 13
DATR
Cam nomenclature

Trace point: on follower; point of fictitious knife-edge

follower. Center of roller, surface of flat-faced follower.
Pitch curve: Locus
generated by trace point
as follower moves
relative to cam

Prime circle: smallest

circle that can be drawn
with center at the cam
rotation axis and is
tangent to the pitch circle

Base circle: smallest

MECHANISMS

circle centered on cam

rotation axis and is
tangent to the cam
surface

17 Lecture 13
DATR
Displacement Diagrams

 A displacement diagram is a curve

showing the displacement of the follower
as ordinates on a base line that represents
one revolution of the cam
 The motion of the follower as it rises or
falls depends on the shape of the curves
in the displacement diagram
MECHANISMS

18 Lecture 13
DATR
Displacement Diagrams

Dwell: The dwell is a period of time during which the follower does
MECHANISMS

not move.
The upward movement of follower is called rise (Outstroke)
The downward movement is called fall (Returnstroke).

19 Lecture 13
DATR
Cam profile

 The cam profile is the actual working

surface contour of the cam.

 Constructing cam profile: kinematic

inversion principle
 Consider that cam is stationary and that
follower rotates in the opposite direction
than the cam does in reality
MECHANISMS

20 Lecture 13
DATR
Cam profiles
MECHANISMS

21 Lecture 13
DATR
Kinematics of cams

 position (s), velocity (v), acceleration (a)

and jerk (j) versus cam angle
MECHANISMS

22 Lecture 13
DATR
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

Bad design.
Acceleration is
infinite:
MECHANISMS

inertia forces,
separation,
wear
23 Lecture 13
DATR
Uniform acceleration and retardation
MECHANISMS

 Jerk is infinite: bad vibration

24 Lecture 13
DATR
Simple harmonic motion

Since the
follower moves
with a simple
harmonic
motion,
therefore
velocity
diagram
consists of a
sine curve and
the acceleration
MECHANISMS

diagram
consists of a
cosine curve

25 Lecture 13
DATR
Polynomial functions

 Continuity
 at =0, s=0, v=0, a=0
 at , s=h, v=0, a=0
 Equation
2
   
s  C 0  C 1    C 2  
   
3 4 5
     
 C 3    C 4    C 5  
     
MECHANISMS

26 Lecture 13