Structures

and
Mechanisms
Cam and Follower
• The cam and follower is a device which can
convert rotary motion (circular motion) into
linear motion (movement in a straight line).

Follower
Cams

Cam

Followers
(valves)
 Classification of Followers

• 1. According to the
surface in contact
• (a) Knife edge
follower.
 Classification of Followers

• 1. According to
the surface in
contact
• (b) Roller follower
 Classification of Followers

• 1. According to
the surface in
contact
• (c) Flat faced or
mushroom
follower
 Classification of Followers

• 1. According to
the surface in
contact
• (d) Spherical
faced follower
 Classification of Followers

• 1. According to
the surface in
contact
• (e) Spherical
faced follower
 Classification of Followers

• 1. According to
the surface in
contact
• (f) Cam with
offset follower
 Classification of Followers

• 2. According to
the motion of the
follower
• (a) Reciprocating
or translating
follower.
(a) Reciprocating or translating follower.
 Classification of Followers

• 2. According to
the motion of the
follower
• (b) Oscillating or
rotating follower
 Classification of Followers

• 3. According to
the path of the
follower
• (a) Radial
follower.
)Radial follower.
Knife edge, 2. Roller, 3. Flat face, 4 Spherical
 Classification of Followers

• 3. According to
the path of the
follower
• (a) Offset
follower.
 Classification of Cams

• 1. Radial or disc
cam.
 Classification of CAMS

• Cylindrical cam.
 Classification of CAMS

• Cylindrical cam.
 Cam and Follower
follower

• The cam can have

various shapes.
These are know as Cam
cam profiles.

Pear Heart Circular Drop

 Cam and Follower
Follower

• A follower is a component
which is designed to move
up and down as it follows cam
the edge of the cam.

Knife edge Flat foot Off set Roller

Follower follower follower follower
 Cam and Follower
• The 'bumps' on a cam are called lobes.
Follower
• The square cam illustrated has four lobes,
and lifts the follower four times each
revolution.

Square cam

Examples of other rotary cam profiles.

 Cam and Follower
Examples of a Rotary cams in operation.

Cams used in a pump.

Control the movement of
the engine valves.
Cam and Follower
• The linear cam moves backwards and forwards in a
reciprocating motion.

Cam Follower

Linear cam

Distance
moved by
the follower
 Cam and Follower
• Cams can also be cylindrical in shape
• Below a cylindrical cam and roller follower.

Cam rise and Fall

• The cam follower does not have to
move up and down - it can be an Max Lift
oscillating lever as shown above.  
Min Lift
Terms Used in Radial Cams
CAM Profile

Displacement
diagram

Cam profile
 Displacement diagram

• Outstroke (Follower rise)

• Dwell
• Return stroke (Follower fall)
• Dwell
 Displacement diagram

• 1. Uniform velocity
• 2.Simple Harmonic Motion
• 3. Uniform Acceleration and Retardation
Cam Profile-1
Cam Profile-2
Cam Profile-3
 CAM profile -4

• Video of cam profile -4 of offset knife

edge follower
 CAM profile -5

• Video of cam profile -5 of offset Roller

follower
 CAM profile -6

• Video of cam profile -6 of flat face follower