Cams

Paper: Theory of Machines

Paper Code: TT 401

Tripuresh Deb Singha

Asstt. Professor

Mechanical Engineering
Govt. College of Engg. and Textile Technology, Serampore
Hooghly-712201, India.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 1

Introduction
Cam mechanism
• A cam is a machine element used to impart a predetermined specified
motion to another element known as follower by direct contact.
• Motion of cam is usually rotating or reciprocating whereas follower
motion may be rotating, reciprocating or oscillating.
• Cam and follower together constitute a higher pair.

Necessary elements of a cam mechanism

• Cam: Driver member.
• Follower: Driven member.
• Frame: Support the cam and guide the follower.

Source: http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112103174/module4/lec3/1.html

Fig. A cam follower mechanism

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 2

Applications of Cams
• To operate inlet and outlet valves of internal combustion engines, cam
mechanism is used as shown in Fig.
• Cam mechanism is employed to control the feed rate in automatic lathes.
• In textile machineries, cams are widely used for the movement of healds in
looms, movement of needles in knitting machines, belt shifting over cone
pulleys in roving machines and movement of ring rail, balloon control rings
and lappets in ring spinning machines.
Valve

Cam follower mechanism

Fig. Applications of cams in Internal Combustion engine

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 3

Classification of Cam Mechanisms
Cam mechanisms can be classified according to
• Modes of input or output motion
• Cam shape
• Constraints of the follower
• Follower shape
• Follower arrangement

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 4

 Classification of Cam Mechanisms
According to the modes of input or output motion
• Rotating cam and translating follower: cams used in internal combustion
engines, looms, ring spinning machines.
• Rotating cam and oscillating follower: cam in comber.
• Translating cam and translating follower:
• Stationery cam and rotating follower: cam in knitting. machine.

Source: http://nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents
/IIT-Delhi/Kinematics%20of%20Machine/site/index1.htm
http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/Linear_Cam
Source: http://giphy.com/gifs/follower-30k6zlvWM8aFG

Fig. Input and output motions of cam

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 5
Classification of Cam Mechanisms
According to the cam shape
Wedge and Flat Cams
A wedge shaped cam (W) has generally translational motion and a
follower (F) either translates or oscillates as guided by Guide (G).

Fig. Wedge cam with translating follower Fig. Wedge cam with oscillating follower

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 6

Classification of Cam Mechanisms
Radial or Disc Cams
• A cam in which the follower moves radially from the centre of rotation of
the cam.
• Radial cams are widely used in most of the machineries due to their
simplicity and compactness.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 7

Classification of Cam Mechanisms
Cylindrical or barrel or drum cams
• In a cylindrical cam a cylinder which has a circumferential groove cut in
the surface of the cam and a roller follower has a constrained oscillating
motion.
• Another type is an end or face cam in which end of the cylinder is the
working surface and a spring loaded follower translates along or parallel to
the axis of the cylinder.

http://i.imgur.com/XT5QhCC.gif

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 8

Classification of Cam Mechanisms
Spiral Cams
• A spiral cam is a face cam in which the a groove is cut in the form of a
spiral. The spiral groove consists of teeth which mesh with a pin gear
follower.
• The application of such a cam is limited as it has to reverse the direction to
reset the position of the follower.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 9

Classification of Cam Mechanisms
Conjugate Cams
• A conjugate cam is a double-disc cam, the two discs being keyed together
and are constant touch with the two rollers of a follower. Thus, the
follower has a positive constraint.
• Such type of cam is preferred when the requirements are low wear, low
noise, better control of the follower, high speed, high dynamic loads, etc.

https://www.psmotion.com/examples/case-erector/conjugate-cam-minimize-backlash

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 10

Classification of Cam Mechanisms
Globoidal Cams
• A globoidal cam can have two types of surfaces: convex and concave. A
circumferential contour is cut on the surface of rotation of the cam to
impart motion to the follower which has an oscillatory motion.

Source: https://www.psmotion.com/mechanism-design-software/
cam-design-software/design-and-manufacture-globoidal-cams

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 11

Classification of Cam Mechanisms
Spherical Cams
• A spherical cam is in the form of a spherical surface which transmits
motion to the follower.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 12

Classification of Cam Mechanisms
According to the constraints of the follower
• Pre-loaded Spring Cam
The contact between the cam and follower is maintained using a
preloaded compression spring.
• Positive- drive Cam
In this type, constant touch between the cam and the follower is
maintained a roller operating in the groove of a cam.
• Gravity Cam
In this case, the return of the follower is achieved by the gravity force

Fig. Pre-loaded spring cam Fig. Positive-drive cam Fig. Gravity cam
Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 13
Classification of Cam Mechanisms (Contd..)
According to the shape of the follower
Knife-edge follower
• This is the simplest type of follower.
• Contacting end of the follower is sharp knife-edge and the contact
between the cam and the follower is a line.
• Its application is limited due to the rapid rate of wear at the contact. It is
usually used for reciprocating motion, running in slides and there is
considerable side thrust between the follower and the guide(G).

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 14

Classification of Cam Mechanisms (Contd..)
Roller follower
• It is widely used cam follower.
• The contacting end of the follower has a cylindrical roller which can rotate
freely about a pin joint.
• Use of roller eliminates rapid wear of follower. In case of steep rise , roller
follower jams the cam.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 15

Classification of Cam Mechanisms (Contd..)
Flat faced Follower or Mushroom follower
• This has the advantage that the only side thrust present is that due to the
friction between the follower and the cam. It does not pose the problem
of Jamming of the cam.
• The disadvantages are high surface stress and wear due to the
misalignment and deflection

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/363947213617995144/

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 16

Classification of Cam Mechanisms (Contd..)
Spherical faced Follower
• The contacting end of the follower is made of spherical shape to eliminate
high stress and wear.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 17

Classification of Cam Mechanisms
According to the follower arrangement
In-line
Line of movement of the follower
passes through the centre of
rotation of the cam.

Fig. In-line cam mechanisms

Offset
Line of movement of the follower is
offset from the centre of rotation of
the cam. Offset is provided to
minimize the side thrust.

Fig. Offset cam mechanisms

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 18

Radial Cam Nomenclature
Base Circle
The smallest circle tangent to the cam
profile drawn from the centre of rotation of
a radial cam.
Trace Point
A reference point on the follower to trace
the cam profile such as knife edge of a knife-
edged follower and centre of the roller of a
roller follower.
Pitch Curve
The curve drawn by the trace point
assuming that the cam is fixed, and the trace
point of the follower rotates around the
cam.
Pressure angle
The angle between the normal to the pitch Fig. Terminologies of a radial cam
curve at a point and the direction of
follower motion.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 19

Cam Nomenclature (Contd..)
Pitch point
The point on the pitch curve at
which the pressure angle is
maximum.
Pitch circle
The circle passing through the pitch
point and concentric with the base
circle.
Prime circle
The smallest circle drawn tangent to
the pitch curve.

Lift or Stroke
Maximum travel of the follower
from its lowest position to the
Fig. Terminologies of a radial cam
topmost position.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 20

Motions of the Follower
Terminologies associated with the cam and follower motions
• Angle of ascent (ϕa)
• Angle of descent ((ϕd)
• Angle of dwell (δ)
• Lift or stroke (h)
• Instantaneous follower displacement (s)
• Angular velocity of cam (ω)
• Instantaneous cam rotation (θ)
The follower may have one of the following motion during its movement
• Simple harmonic motion or SHM
• Constant acceleration and deceleration
• Constant or uniform velocity
• Cycloidal motion

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 21

Layout of cam profile
Example:
A cam is to give the following motion to a knife-edge follower having 50
mm lift :
(i) Out stroke with SHM for 60° cam rotation
(ii) Dwell for 45° cam rotation;
(iii) Return stroke with SHM for 90°cam rotation;
(iv) Dwell for the remaining period.
The base circle diameter of cam is 50 mm. Draw the cam profile of the
cam, when
(a) the axis of the follower passes through the axis of the cam shaft, and
(b) the axis of the follower is offset by 10 mm from the axis of the cam
shaft.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 22

Layout of cam profile (Contd..)
Solution:

Drawing of Displacement diagram

• Draw PX = 360° to some suitable scale. On this line mark PQ = 60° to represent outstroke, QR
= 45° to represent dwell, RS = 90° to represent return stroke and SX = 165° to represent dwell.
• Draw vertical line PY = 50 mm to represent the lift and complete the rectangle.
• Divide the angular displacement during outstroke and return stroke into equal six parts and
draw vertical lines through each point.
• Draw a semi-circle with PY as diameter and divide it into six equal parts.
• From points 1,2,3,…etc on the semi-circle, draw horizontal lines intersecting the
corresponding vertical lines drawn through 1,2,3….etc. at a, b, c,….j, k, l which are joined by a
smooth curve to obtain displacement diagram.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 23

Layout of cam profile (Contd..)
(a) Necessary steps for layout of cam
profile when In-line follower
• Draw base circle with O as centre
and 50 mm radius.
• Mark trace point A.
• From OA, mark the given angles
(Out stroke, dwell, return, dwell).
• Divide outstroke and return angles
into same number of equal
divisions as done displacement
diagram and mark points 1,2, etc.
• Draw radial lines O1,O2, etc.
• Set off 1a,2b from displacement
diagram.
• Join a,b,c etc. to get cam profile.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 24

Layout of cam profile (Contd..)
(b) Necessary steps for layout of cam
profile when 10 mm offset
• Draw base circle with O as centre and
50 mm radius.
• Draw another circle of radius 10 mm
with same centre O.
• From OA, mark the given angles (Out
stroke, dwell, return, dwell).
• Divide outstroke and return angles into
same number of equal divisions as
done displacement diagram and mark
points 1,2, etc.
• Draw tangents to the circle with radius
10 mm from the points 1,2, etc.
• Set off 1a,2b, etc. from displacement
diagram.
• Join a,b,c etc. to get cam profile.

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 25

References
[1] Norton, R.L., “Design of machinery”, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill.
[2] Khurmi, R.S, Gupta, J.K., “Theory of Machines”, 14th ed., S. Chand & Co. Ltd., New Dehli 2005.
[3] Rattan, S.S, “Theory of Machines”, 2nd ed., TMH Pub Co. Ltd., New Delhi, 2008.
[4] http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112104121/1
[5] http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112103174/module4/lec3/1-4.html

Tripuresh Deb Singha GCETT Serampore April 3, 2019 26