Islamic University ‫الجامعة اإلسالمية‬

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Mechanical
‫كليه الهندسة قسم الهندسة‬
Engineering ‫ال م ي ك ا ن ي ك ي ة‬

ME323 –THEORY OF MACHINES

(LAB REPORT)

Name: Mohammed Tahhan

Student ID: 392027113

Section: 1234

Experiment #: 7

Experiment title: Cam & Follower Experiment

Date: 4/17/2022

Instructor Dr.Mohammed Farhan

Grading Table
Content Grade Comment
Report (Aim, Objective,
/20
Introduction etc.)
Stroke vs Angle [Data &
/40
Plots](Assignment 1)
Graphical Solution
/40
(Assignment 2)
Total /100
Aim: To study various types of cam and follower arrangements.

Objectives:
• To study the following different types cam and follower configurations by making displacement
of follower against angle of rotation of the cams:
o Convex cam - cup follower
o Tangent cam - roller follower
o Concave cam - roller follower
o Unsymmetrical cam - rocker arm
• To draw the profile of cam with a given set of characteristics.
Apparatus: GL100 Cam and Follower apparatus (GUNT) [Dial Gauge included]

Theory:
Cams are used to convert rotary motion into reciprocating motion. The cam mechanism consists of two
elements, the cam and the follower. Normally cams are drivers and the followers are driven. Cams are
used in internal combustion engines, where they are used to operate the inlet and exhaust valves.

1.1 Classification of cam mechanism:

Based on modes of Input / output motion:

1. Rotating cam – Translating follower (Fig 1.1 a,b,c,d,e)
2. Rotating cam – Oscillating follower (Fig 1.1f)
3. Translating cam – Translating follower (Fig 1.2)
 Fig 1.1 Classification of cam mechanisms

Fig 1.2 Translating cam – Translating follower

1.2 Classification of followers

1.2.1 According to the shape of follower

a) Knife edge follower (Fig 1.3 a)
b) Roller follower (Fig 1.3b)
c) Flat faced follower (Fig 1.3c)
d) Spherical faced follower (Fig 1.3d)

Fig 1.3 Types of followers

1.2.2 According to the path of motion of follower
a) Radial follower: When the motion of the follower is along an axis passing through the centre of
the cam, it is known as radial followers. (Fig 1.3 a,b,c,d) are examples of this type.
b) Off – set follower: When the motion of the follower is along an axis away from the axis of the
cam centre, it is called off-set follower. (Fig 1.4 a,b,c,d) are examples of this type.
 Fig 1.4 Different types of offset followers

1.3Classification of cams
Radial or disc cam:
In radial cams, the follower reciprocates or oscillates in a direction perpendicular to the cam axis.
The cams shown in fig 1.1, fig 1.2, fig 1.3 and fig 1.4 are examples of this type.
Cylindrical cam:
In cylindrical cams, the follower reciprocates or oscillates in a direction parallel to the cams axis. Fig
1.5a is an example.
End cam:
It is also similar to cylindrical cams, but the follower makes contact at periphery of the cam as
shown in fig 1.5b.

Fig 1.5 Cylindrical cam and End cam

2. Cam Nomenclature:

• Cam profile: The outer surface of the disc cam.

• Base circle: The circle with the shortest radius from the cam center to any part of the cam
profile.
• Trace point: It is a point on the follower, and its motion describes the movement of the
follower. It is used to generate the pitch curve.
• Pitch curve: The path generated by the trace point as the follower is rotated about a stationery
cam.
• Prime circle: The smallest circle from the cam center through the pitch curve
• Pressure angle: The angle between the direction of the follower movement and the normal to
the pitch curve.
• Pitch point: Pitch point corresponds to the point of maximum pressure angle.
• Pitch circle: A circle drawn from the cam center and passes through the pitch point is called
Pitch circle
• Stroke: The greatest distance or angle through which the follower moves or rotates

Fig 1.6 Cam nomenclature

3. Motion of the follower:

As the cam rotates the follower moves upward and downward. The upward movement of
follower is called rise and the downward movement is called fall. When the follower is not
moving upward and downward even when the cam rotates, it is called dwell.
In general there are four types of motion of follower.
a) Uniform motion ( constant velocity)
b) Simple harmonic motion
c) Uniform acceleration and retardation motion
d) Cycloidal motion
a) Uniform motion (Constant velocity):
The follower moves with constant velocity. It is applicable for rise and fall of the follower.
Displacement diagram:
It is the plot of linear displacement (s) of follower V/S angular displacement (θ) of the cam for
one full rotation of the cam.
Velocity diagram:
It is the plot of linear velocity of follower V/S angular displacement (θ) of the cam for one full
rotation of the cam.
Acceleration diagram:
It is the plot of linear acceleration of follower V/S angular displacement (θ) of the cam for one
full rotation of the cam.

Fig 1.6 Displacement diagram for uniform motion

Since the follower moves with uniform velocity during its rise and fall, the slope of the
displacement curve must be constant as shown in fig 1.6

b) Simple Harmonic motion:

The displacement diagram, velocity diagram and acceleration diagram for SHM is shown in
fig 1.7

Fig 1.7 Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration diagrams of SHM

 Since the follower moves with a simple harmonic motion, therefore velocity diagram consists
of a sine curve and the acceleration diagram consists of a cosine curve.
c) Uniform acceleration and retardation:
The displacement diagram, velocity diagram and acceleration diagram for Uniform
acceleration and retardation is shown in fig 1.8

Fig 1.8 Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration diagrams of Uniform acceleration and
retardation motion
Since the acceleration and retardation are uniform, therefore the velocity varies directly
with time.

d) Cycloidal motion:
The displacement diagram, velocity diagram and acceleration diagram for
Cycloidal motion is shown in fig 1.9
 Fig 1.9 Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration diagram of Cycloidal motion

4. CAM profile:
The sample cam profile as shown in fig 1.10

d
c
e
b
a
f
2 1
3
4
5
6

50

8
g
9
10
11 12
h
l
i k
j

Fig 1.10 CAM Profile

Assignments:

1. Generate stroke vs angle data by periodic turning of cams and recording the
displacement of the followers on the dial gauge for the four cam and followers
available to plot the data showing the 360 deg. Displacement profile of the
followers.
2. Solve the following problem graphically.

Problem:

Draw the profile of a cam operating with a knife edge follower with the following
characteristics:

1. Follower to move outward through 40 mm during 60⁰ of cam rotation.

2. Follower to dwell for rest 45⁰.
3. Follower to return to original position in the next 90⁰.
4. Dwell for the rest of the rotation.

Consider least radius of the cam to be 50 mm. Consider the follower to be observing
SHM.
 Question 1:
(A)
Cam: Concave Cam: Unsymmetrical Cam: Convex Cam: Tangent

Follower: Roller Follower: Rocker Follower: Cup Follower: Roller

Angle Displacement Angle Displacement Angle Displacement Angle Displacement

(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)

180- 0 180- 0 180- 0 180- 0

300 290 290 300
310 4.96 300 0.39 300 0.17 310 1.30
320 9.18 310 2.28 310 1.98 320 4.25

330 12.66 320 5.53 320 5.69 330 8.26

340 14.41 330 9.15 330 9.43 340 11.57
350-20 14.64 340 12.10 340 12.3 350 13.64
30 14.15 350 13.96 350 14 360 14.55
40 12.05 360 14.86 360 14.78 10 14.35
50 8.27 10 14.65 10 14.49 20 12.98
60 3.06 20 13.46 20 12.98 30 10.60
70-180 0 30 11.18 30 10.74 40 7.66

40 8.05 40 7.60 50 3.40

50 4.23 50 3.77 60 0.88
60 1.47 60 1.09 70- 0
180
70 0.15 70-180 0
80 0.02
90-180 0
Question 1:
(B)