Cam and Follower: Omar Ahmad Ali Ayman Mohammad Alkhwiter Eid Sunhat Alharbi

Qassim University ‫جامعـة القصيـم‬
Engineering college ‫كلية الهندسة‬

Mechanical Engineering ‫قسم الهندسة الميكانيكية‬
Dept.
ME 363
Mechanics of Machines Lab.
Semester: 391
Experiment #6
Cam and Follower

By:
Member Name ID
1 Omar Ahmad Ali 341116387
2 Ayman Mohammad Alkhwiter 331101275
3 Eid Sunhat ALharbi 361110269
Instructor
Eng. Nasser Alqahtani
Date:25-Nov- 2018
ME363: Mechanics of Machines Lab. Semester 391
Experiment # 6: Cam and Follower
Abstract:
In this experiment, we used Cam and Follower during the experiment we
plot the follower motion and cam profile. Finally, we will compare
between the cam and the cam we plot.
Table of Contents
1
1. Objectives:.......................................................................................................4
2. Introduction:....................................................................................................4
3. Methodology:................................................................................................13
4. Results...........................................................................................................14
5. Discussion:....................................................................................................14
6. Conclusions:..................................................................................................15
7. Reference:......................................................................................................16
List of Figures
2
Figure Title Page

1 Cam and Follower 4
2 Cam operated valve 5
3 Concentric Disc 6
4 Edge Cam 6
5 Box Cam 7
6 Cylindrical Cam 7
7 Pear –Shaped Cams 8
8 Circular Cams 8
9 Heart Shaped Cam 9
10 Uniform Acceleration And Retardation cam 9
11 The Knife-Edge 11
12 The Roller follower 11
13 The Flatfoot or Mushroom follower 11
14 types of cam followers 12
15 flat-face cam follower 12
1. Objectives:
-To find out the cam and follower behavior at different follower movement.
3
-To study the different types of cam and follower with their practical uses.
2. Introduction:
A cam is a mechanical component of a machine that is used to transmit motion
to another component, called the follower, though a prescribed motion program
by a direct contact. cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage
used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion. It is often a
part of a rotating wheel or shaft, that strikes a lever at one or more points on its
circular path. The cam can be a simple tooth, as is used to deliver pulses of
power to a steam hammer, for example, or an eccentric disc or other shape that
produces a smooth reciprocating (back and forth) motion in the follower, which
is a lever making contact with the cam. show in figure,1.
Figure 1: Cam and Follower
Uses of Cams:
The cam mechanism is a versatile one. It can be designed to produce almost
unlimited types of motioning the follower. It is used to transform a rotary
motion into translating or oscillating motion. On a certain occasion, it is also
used to transform one translating or oscillating motion into a different
translating or oscillating motion. Cams are used in a wide variety of automatic
machines and instruments.
Typical examples of their usage include textile machinery, computers, printing

presses, food processing machines, internal combustion engines, and countless
other automatic machines, control systems, and devices. The cam mechanism is
indeed a very important component in modern mechanization.
4
The cam operated valve system:

The most well-known use of cams is in car engines. The Cam operated valve
system can be found in modern car engines and incorporates a number of cams;
the valves are opened by cams, four-and six-lobed cams govern the spark
distribution and many car petrol oil pumps are cam driven. show in figure,2.
Figure 2: Cam operated valve
Classifying Cams:-
Cams can be classified into two main groups:
Group1.
Cams that impart motion to the follower in a plane in line with the axis of
rotation of the cam (as does a cylindrical cam) .
Group2.
Cams that impart motion to the follower in a plane at 90˚to the axis of rotation,
as with face or edge cams. Most cams fall into this category.
The cam, as a means of producing a given type of motion, is simple and
reasonable to design, provided the simple principles are understood. Another
advantage is that, generally, a cam can easily be changed or modified to allow a
change of motion, without interfering with the remainder of the mechanism.
Eccentric Cam :
A circular cam is often called an eccentric cam because the axis of rotation of
the cam is offset from the geometric center of the circular disc.
Concentric Disc :
5
A concentric disc attached to a rotating shaft would have its axis of rotation
coinciding with its geometric center. show in figure,3.
Figure 3: Concentric Disc
Edge Cams
It must be appreciated that this type of cam, where the follower is in contact
with the edge of the cam disc, is only capable of imparting positive motion to its
follower in one direction, that is, during the rise portion of the cam movement.
During the fall portion of the cam movement, the follower must be maintained
in contact with the cam either by the mass of the follower and its mechanism or,
more usually, by a spring. Both methods have their advantages. show in
figure,4.
Figurer 4 : Edge Cam
Box Cam :
A groove can be milled in the face of cam discs. As the cam rotates, a follower
located in the groove has its motion guided by the groove. This type of cam is
called a box cam. show in figure,5.
6
Figure 5 : Box Cam
Cylindrical Cams :
Cylindrical cams are used when motion has to be transmitted parallel to the axis
of rotation of the cam. The cylindrical or barrel cam consists of a rotating
cylinder with a helical (screw shaped) groove in its curved surface. A follower
with a tapered roller end is located in the groove. As the cylinder turns, the
follower moves in a straight line parallel to the axis of the rotation barrel cam.
This type of cam is often used to guide thread on sewing machines, looms and
fabric making machines. show in figure,6.
Figure 6: Cylindrical Cam
PROFILE SHAPES OF SOME CAMS :

The most common kind of cam is the plate cam. It consists of a narrow plate or
disc, which is fixed to rotating shaft. The plate is shaped so that the follower will
produce a pre-determined form of motion. Most cams are designed to have a
smooth curved shape so that the motion transmitted to the follower is smooth
and without sudden jerks.
7
Pear –Shaped Cams :

These types of cams are often used for controlling valves. For examples, they
are used on motor car camshafts to operate the engine valves. A follower
controlled by a pear-shaped cam remains motionless for about half a revolution
of the cam. During the time that the follower is stationary, the cam is in a dwell
period. During the other half revolution of the cam, the follower rises and then
falls. As the pear-shaped cam is symmetrical, the rise motion is the same as the
fall motion. show in figure,7.
Figure 7: Pear –Shaped Cams

Circular Cams :
These cams are sometimes called eccentric cams. The cam profile is a circle.
The center of rotation of the cam is often from the geometric center of the circle.
The circular cam produces a smooth form of motion called a simple harmonic
motion. These cams are often used to produce motion in pumps. Circular cams
are often used to operate steam engine valves. As the cam is symmetrical, the
rise and fall motions are the same. show in figure,8.
Figure 8: Circular Cams
Heart Shaped Cams :

This cam causes the follower to move with a uniform velocity. Heart shaped
cams are essential when the follower motion needs to be uniform or steady as,
for example, in the mechanism that winds thread evenly on the bobbin of a
sewing machine. A heart shaped cam can be used for winding wire evenly on
the former of a solenoid. show in figure,9.
8
Figure 9: Heart Shaped Cam
Uniform Acceleration And Retardation cam :

A cam shaped as shown controls the motion of the follower so that it moves
with uniform acceleration and retardation. The follower gains and loses velocity
at a constant rate. Uniform acceleration and retardation cams are used to
controls the motion of linkages in complex machinery. show in figure,10.
Figure 10: Uniform Acceleration And Retardation cam
Cam Followers :
There are three types of cam followers:
a) The Knife-Edge. show in figure,11.
b) The Roller follower. show in figure,12.
c) The Flatfoot or Mushroom follower. show in figure,13.
The Knife-edge follower :
9
This is the simplest type, is not often used due to the rapid rate of wear. When it
is adopted, it is usually for reciprocating motion, running in slides and there is
considerable side thrust, this being a component of the thrust from the cam.
The Roller follower :

This eliminates the problem of rapid wear since the sliding effect is largely
replaced by a roller action. Some sliding will still take place due to the varying
peripheral speed of the cam profile due to the changing radius of the point of
contact. Note also that the radial position of the contact between the cam and the
roller, relative to the follower center, will change according to whether a rise or
fall motion is taken place: this fact has to be considered when constructing the
cam profile. Again, with the roller follower, considerable side thrusts are
present, a disadvantage when dealing with reciprocating motions. This side
thrust will be increased using small rollers.
The Flat foot or Mushroom follower :

This has the advantage that the only side thrust present is that due to the friction
between the follower and the cam. The problem of wear is not so great as with
the Knife-edge follower, since the point of contact between the cam and the
follower will move across the face of the follower according to the change of
shape of the cam. A trick to lessen further the effect of wear is to design the
follower to be capable of axial rotation and arrange the axis of the follower to lie
to one side of the cam. Thus the contact with the cam will tend to cause rotation
of the follower. The cam profile, to work with a flatfoot follower, must be
convex at all parts, in order to prevent the corners of the follower digging into
the cam profile. The minimum cam radius should be as small as possible to
minimize sliding velocity and friction.
10
Figure 11: The Knife-Edge
Figure 12: The Roller follower
Figure 13: The Flatfoot or Mushroom follower
Cam Design consideration:
11
All three types of cam followers can be mounted in the following ways : show in
figure,14.
1. In-line with the cam center line.

2. Offset from the cam center line.
3. Mounted on a sewing radial arm.
Figure 14: types of cam followers
All cam follower wear at different rates depending on the follower shape, size,
type etc. the next section shows how to reduce wear in a flat-foot follower.
Reducing wear in a flat-face cam follower :

One method of reducing wear on a flat-face follower is to allow the follower to
rotate as the cam rotates. This leads to an even amount of wear on the follower.
show in figure,15.
Figure 15: flat-face cam follower
12
If the cam follower and its mechanism are made too heavy, then during the early
part of the cam rise (that is, the acceleration portion) the force imparted to the
follower by the cam will be large. This gives a high torque requirement at this
part of the camshaft revolution. Furthermore, once the heavy follower and its
mechanism are moving, the momentum will tend to keep it moving at that
speed. This means that the cam may not be in control, during the second part of
the rise, and the heavy spring loading will be necessary to maintain contact
between the cam and the follower at the end of the rise.
From these considerations, it can be seen that among the main aims to be borne
in mind during cam design are:
High acceleration and deceleration are to be avoided to minimize force
requirements;
Maximum acceleration should occur during the middle of the stroke;
The mass of the mechanism to be moved by the cam should be as small as
is practicable.
3. Methodology:
Experiment Procedure:
1- Identify the cam and follower type.
2- Plot the counter of the cam.
3- Identify the experiment of apparatus.
4- Set the experiment setup assigned to you.
5- Record the follower motion corresponding to each 10 degree of
cam rotation.
6- Plot the follower motion against the cam rotational angle and
determine the stroke.
7- Plot the cam profile and compare it with the cam itself.
8- Extra bonus when you plot the follower motion with different
cam profiles.
4. Results & Discussion:

13
A cam and follower to create a specific motion. The cam is in most cases
merely a flat piece of metal that has had an unusual shape or profile machined
on to it. This cam is attached to a shaft which enables it to be turned by applying
a turning action to the shaft. As the cam rotates it is the profile or shape of the
cam that causes the follower to move in an a particular way. The movement of
the follower has then transmitted to another mechanism or another part of the
mechanism.
or In short, can say that cam changes the rotation motion in time variable linear
motion.
5. Conclusions:
14
We learned from this experiment different shapes of cam, also we see some
follower shapes like roller, flat and knife follower. Then we learned that motion
of follower and cam profile.
15
6. Reference:
[2]"Cam", En.wikipedia.org, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cam.
[Accessed: 24- Nov- 2018].
16

Cam and Follower: Omar Ahmad Ali Ayman Mohammad Alkhwiter Eid Sunhat Alharbi

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Qassim University ‫جامعـة القصيـم‬

Engineering college ‫كلية الهندسة‬

Cam and Follower

Eng. Nasser Alqahtani

Figure Title Page

Figure 1: Cam and Follower

Typical examples of their usage include textile machinery, computers, printing

The cam operated valve system:

Figure 2: Cam operated valve

Figure 3: Concentric Disc

Figurer 4 : Edge Cam

Figure 5 : Box Cam

Figure 6: Cylindrical Cam

PROFILE SHAPES OF SOME CAMS :

Pear –Shaped Cams :

Figure 7: Pear –Shaped Cams

Figure 8: Circular Cams

Heart Shaped Cams :

Figure 9: Heart Shaped Cam

Uniform Acceleration And Retardation cam :

Figure 10: Uniform Acceleration And Retardation cam

The Knife-edge follower :

The Roller follower :

The Flat foot or Mushroom follower :

Figure 11: The Knife-Edge

Figure 12: The Roller follower

Figure 13: The Flatfoot or Mushroom follower

Cam Design consideration:

1. In-line with the cam center line.

Figure 14: types of cam followers

Reducing wear in a flat-face cam follower :

Figure 15: flat-face cam follower

4. Results & Discussion:

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