MACHINE ELEMENTS 2

CLASSIFICATION OF
CAMS AND
FOLLOWERS AND
IT’S APPLICATION
 Definition of Cam

• A cam is a rotating machine

element which gives
reciprocating or oscillating
motion to another element
known as follower.
• The cam and the follower have a
line contact and constitute a
higher pair.
• Three elements :
– Driver member – CAM
– Driven member – Follower
– Frame – to support the cam
and guide the follower
 Classification of Cams

• Three types :
• According to
1. Shape
2. Follower movement
3. Manner of constraint of follower
 Wedge cam

• Wedge has translation movement

• Follower can translate or oscillate
• Spring is used to maintain the
contact between cam and follower
 Radial or Disc cam

Cam with knife edge Cam with spherical

follower faced follower

In radial cams, the follower reciprocates or oscillates

in a direction perpendicular to the cam axis.
 Cylindrical cam

Cylindrical cam with Cylindrical cam with

reciprocating follower oscillating follower

In cylindrical cams, the follower reciprocates or

oscillates in a direction parallel to the cams axis.
 According to manner of constraint of
follower
1. Pre-loaded spring cam

Compression spring is used

to maintain the contact
between cam and follower.
According to manner of constraint of follower
continue…

2. Positive drive cam

Contact between cam and follower is maintained by roller

follower which operates in groove of cam.
According to manner of constraint of follower
continue…

3. Gravity cam
Contact between the cam and follower is maintained due to the gravity or
own weight of the follower.
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.
• 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.
• Stroke: The greatest distance or angle through
which the follower moves or rotates
 Classification of Followers

1. According to Shape
2. According to the motion of the follower.
3. According to the path of motion of the follower
According to Shape
According to Shape
Continue….
According To The Motion Of The Follower

Oscillating Follower Reciprocating Follower

 According To The Path Of Motion Of The Follower

Radial Follower Offset Follower

 Motion of the follower
As the cam rotates the follower moves upward and downward.
• The upward movement of follower is called rise (Outstroke)
• The downward movement is called fall (Return stroke).
• When the follower is not moving upward and downward even
when the cam rotates, it is called dwell.
Knife Edge Follower
Flat Faced Follower
Roller Follower
 End Cam

It is similar to cylindrical cam in

which follower makes contact at
periphery of cam.
 Types of follower motion
1. Uniform motion ( constant velocity)
2. Simple harmonic motion
3. Uniform acceleration and retardation motion
 a) Uniform motion (constant velocity)

• Displacement diagram: Displacement is the distance that a follower

moves during one complete revolution (or cycle) of the cam while the
follower is in contact with the cam.
• 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.
• A period is a part of the cam cycle and it includes the following:

Rise (Outstroke) – the upward motion of the follower caused by cam

motion.
Fall (Return stroke) – the downward motion of the follower caused by cam
motion.
Dwell – the stationary position of the follower caused by cam motion.
a) Uniform motion (constant
velocity)
 a) Uniform motion (constant velocity)

Displacement diagram
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
b) Simple Harmonic motion
 b) Simple harmonic motion
• 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

• Since the
acceleration
and
retardation
are uniform,
therefore the
velocity varies
directly with
time.
 CAM Profile

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

45°
50

8
g
9
10
11 12
h
l
i k
j
Practice problem
Problem 1:
Draw the cam profile for following conditions: Follower
type = knife edged follower, in line; lift = 30mm; base
circle radius = 20mm; out stroke with uniform velocity
in 120 degrees of cam rotation; dwell for 60degrees ;
return stroke with uniform velocity, during 90degrees
of cam rotation; dwell for the remaining period.
Problem 2:
Follower type = roller follower, in-line; lift = 25mm;
base circle radius = 20mm; roller radius = 5mm; out
stroke with UARM, for 120 degrees cam rotation;
dwell for 60 degrees cam rotation; return stroke
with UARM, for 90 degrees cam rotation; dwell for
the remaining period.
Problem 3:
Follower type = Knife edged, in-line; lift = 50mm;
base circle radius = 50mm; out stroke with SHM, for
60 degrees cam rotation; dwell for 45 degrees cam
rotation; return stroke with SHM, for 90 degrees
cam rotation; dwell for the remaining period.
 Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart; and Lean

not unto thine own understanding.”
Thank you…….