Cams and Followers

A cam is a rotating machine element which gives reciprocating or oscillating motion to

another element known as follower.
Classification of Followers:

1. According to the surface in contact:

a) Cam with knife edge follower i) Sharp knife edge

ii) Sliding motion
iii) Less used due to small contact
area
iv) Excessive wear produced
v) Considerable side thrust

b) Cam with roller follower i) Roller follower

ii) Rolling motion occurs
iii) Rate of wear is greatly reduced
iv) Side thrust exist between
follower and guide
v) Widely used type in oil engine
and aircraft engine

c) Cam with flat faced follower i) Flat faced follower

ii) Side thrust between follower and
guide is reduced extensively.
Only side thrust due to friction
iii) Wear exists
iv) Used in valve of automobile
engine where less space
v) Wear can be reduced by
offsetting the axis of the follower
 d) Cam with spherical faced follower i) Spherical shape follower
ii) High stress can be reduced
iii) Normally used instead of flat
faced so that surface stress can
be reduced.

2. According to the motion of the follower:

a) Reciprocating or translating follower  Motion of the follower is

reciprocating

b) Oscillating or rotating follower  When the uniform rotary motion of

the cam is converted into
predetermined oscillatory motion of
the follower, it is called oscillatory or
rotating follower.
 3. According to the path of motion of the follower:

a) Radial follower  Motion of the follower is along an

axis passing through the center of the
cam.

b) Off-set follower  When the motion of the follower is

along an axis away from the axis of
the cam center.

Classification of cams:

1. Radial or disc cam  Follower

reciprocates or
oscillates in a
direction
perpendicular to the
cam axis.
2. Cylindrical Cam  Follower
reciprocates or
oscillates in a
direction parallel to
the cam axis.

Radial Cam terms:

Motion of the Follower:
i) Uniform velocity
ii) Simple harmonic motion
iii) Uniform acceleration and retardation
iv) Cycloidal motion

i) Follower moves with uniform velocity

 Modified or Practical

ii) Follower moves with Simple harmonic motion (SHM)

x=a sin ωt
ẋ=aω cos ωt
ẍ=−a ω2 sin ωt
Let,
S = Stroke of the follower
0 and R = Angular displacement of the cam
ω = Angular velocity of the cam
So, time required for the out stroke of the
follower
t0 = 0/
iii) Follower moves with uniform acceleration

iv) Follower moves with cycloidal motion: