CAM DYNAMICS

Mechanism provides a non-linear I/O relationship. Different mechanism like single or multi-
degrees of freedom, intermittent motion mechanisms and linkages etc. have different I/O
relationship. When we can not obtain a certain functions from the well known mechanisms,
we use a cam mechanism. It is a one degree of freedom mechanism of two moving links. One
is cam and the other is follower.
There are limitations of its use. After some critical
y=f(x)
speed the nett acceleration of the follower system may
mass
Follower be in a direction to separate it from the cam surface. So
Cam profile
the follower does not follow the surface profile any
more. We have to be able to calculate this critical
Slidingcam x
speed and must not operate the mechanism beyond it.

Critical speed depends on the profile of the cam, the stiffness and pretension of any restoring
spring if exist at all or the mass of the follower. So, a differential analysis requires for each
widely used cam profile. One example will be done here concerning an eccentric cam. An
eccentric cam has a circular profile, but rotates about an axis which is displaced from the cam
center by e amount, called the "eccentricity".

y y

k
Fc m Fs=k(y+d)
e m

mg
NA NB
Follower displacement becomes;
y = e e cos
where = t , cam is rotating with constant angular velocity, .
taking first and second time derivative of follower displacement equation we will get velocity
and acceleration, respectively;

y = e sin t And y = 2 e cos t

There will be inertia forces acting onto the follower proportional to this acceleration.
Differential motion equation for the follower is;

F = m y
From the free body diagram of the follower, nett force in y direction becomes;

F = F c Fs = Fc k ( y + )

Where, Fc is contact force

is spring pre-compression

Substituting, y , y and F into differential equation of motion yields;

Fc = e(m 2 k ) cos t + k (e + )

Fc = 0 is the critical condition. It must always have positive value. When Fc = 0 , contact is
lost and hence cam and follower are no longer touching each other. It means that follower is
no more following the profile of the cam. It is free and floating in the air.