Kinematic Analysis of the Roller Follower

Motion in Translating Cam-Follower

Mechanisms

E. Seabra and P. Flores

Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães,

Portugal; e-mail: {eseabra,pflores}@dem.uminho.pt

Abstract. The main purpose of this work is to present a complete kinematic analysis of the roller
motion in translating cam-follower mechanisms with translating roller followers. The main kin-
ematic variables of the roller are the angular velocity and angular acceleration. These quantities
are deduced in a general form, in such a way they can be easily used for different cam laws. Fur-
thermore, the influence of the functioning cam-follower parameters can also be included. Finally,
an example of application is offered to analyze and discuss the main procedures considered in this
work.

Key words: roller motion, cam-follower mechanisms, kinematic analysis

1 Introduction

Cam-follower mechanisms constitute a simple, versatile, compact and economic

way by which a part can be given a prescribed motion. Other important features as-
sociated with this class of mechanical devices are the ability to obtain an arbitrarily
specified motion for the follower with a close control over its kinematics character-
istics and a strong mechanical liability, mainly due to the reduced number of moving
parts involved. The spectrum of engineering applications of the cam-follower mech-
anisms is wide and comprises, for example, systems of open and close valves in in-
ternal combustion engines, cutting and forming presses, textile machinery, medical
devices, just to mention a few. Over the last decades the fundamental theories of the
cam-follower systems have been quite well treated in several standard textbooks [2,
7, 8].
Due to its capability to ensure complex output motion, the disc cam mechan-
ism with translating roller follower is indubitably one of the most popular and used
systems among the different cam-follower types. In general, the studies of the cam
follower mechanisms with translating roller follower do not include the analysis of
the relative motion between the cam and roller. However, this motion is inevitable
in the system due to the rolling effect between these two mechanical components.
Moreover, due to the variation of the distance from center of the cam rotation to

D. Pisla et al. (eds.), New Trends in Mechanism Science:Analysis and Design, 253
Mechanisms and Machine Science 5, DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-9689-0_29,
© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
254 E. Seabra and P. Flores

the cam profile, the roller has changes in the angular motion about its center and,
consequently, the roller is subjected to angular accelerations. These angular accel-
erations associated with the friction force developed between the roller and cam
surface causes a resistant torque, which magnitude depends on the system’s inertia
and on the pressure angle [3]. Therefore, based on these assumptions some criteria
can be defined in order to eliminate, or at least minimize, the slip between the roller
and cam surfaces. Moreover, geometric parameters such as the base circle of the
cam, the offset of the follower and the radius of the roller follower influence the
cam design process. In addition, when the change of the two main performance cam
parameters, that is, the pressure angle and the curvature radius of the cam, is com-
bined with the above factors, the cam design becomes a nontrivial task. The degree
of complexity can become even higher when the designer requires the optimization
of the cam size. The cam size is one of the main factors to be considered when
selecting the base circle radius, especially if there are space limitations [1, 6, 9]. It
is known that, the pressure angle and the curvature radius are inversely influenced
by the base circle radius of the cam. The problem of rotational motion of the roller
elements has been studied by few researchers. Yudin and Petrokas [10] are the few
who did this type of analysis, however, this publication is in Russian [5].
Thus, the purpose of this work is to present the complete kinematic analysis of the
roller motion cam mechanisms with translating roller followers. In the sequel of this
process, some fundamental aspects related to the cam-follower systems are revisited.
Finally, some results obtained from computational simulations are presented with
the intent to understand and discuss the main assumptions and procedures adopted
throughout this work.

2 Kinematics of the Follower Motion

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a generic cam disc mechanism with

an offset translating roller follower. A translating roller follower consists of an arm,
constrained to move in a straight line, with a roller attached to its extremity by
means of a pin. Thus, as the cam rotates, the roller rolls on the cam surface and
causes the arm to translate. This relative rolling motion helps to reduce wear, and,
for this reason, the roller follower is often preferred over followers that have sliding
contact [2].
It is known that in most of the cases a cam follower mechanism is required to be
displaced through a specific rise and fall. The shape of the displacement curve plays
a key role in the synthesis of a cam mechanism. Therefore, the velocity, acceleration
and, in many cases, further derivatives of the follower displacement are of great im-
portance. According to Norton [7], the fundamental tenet of the cam design process
can be stated as “the cam-follower function must be continuous through the first
and second derivatives of the displacement (i.e. velocity and acceleration) across
the entire interval”. Besides, the jerk must be finite across entire interval as well.
In short the displacement, velocity and acceleration characteristics of the follower