Machine

Elements II
Cams
◼ Cam is a link having an irregular surface
or groove that imparts motion to a follower
◼ Cams are very important and frequently
occurring elements in many types of
machines – especially AUTOMATIC
MACHINES
◼ Cams are the heart of such automatic
devices as automatic machine tools,
record changers, mechanical calculators,
cash registers, and many other devices.
Types of Cams
a) Radial Cam
Follower c) Linear Cam
Cam Follower
Cam

Follower

Follower Cam

Cam

b) Cylindrical Cam
d) Positive-action Cam
(drum)
Point Follower Roller Follower

Flat face Follower

Application of cam:
example – internal
combustion engine
Motions Used for Cam followers
◼ The motion of the follower is of primary
interest in the analysis of existing cams or
in the design of new cams.
◼ It is easier to analyze the motion of cam
followers if their motion is plotted as a
graph often referred to as
DISPLACEMENT DIAGRAM
 Displacement Diagram

Maximum
follower
Displacement

30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180° 210° 240° 270° 300° 330° 360°

1 revolution (360°)
(time, t)
 Motions that are most commonly
used are:

1. Uniform Velocity (straight line) motion – UVM

2. Simple Harmonic Motion – SHM
3. Uniformly Accelerated motion (Parabolic Motion) –
UAM or PM
4. Modified Uniform-Velocity Motion – MUVM
a. Arc method – MUVM-Arc
b. Uniform Acceleration Method – MUVM-UAM
5. Cycloidal Motion – CM
Uniform Velocity Motion (Straight
Line Motion)
If the follower is to move with uniform velocity, its
displacement must be the same for equal units of time.
5

30° 60° 90° 120° 150°

Its curve in the displacement diagram, therefore, is a
STRAIGHT LINE
 Example 1:
Lay out the displacement diagram for a cam follower that
is to have the following motions:
Dwell 30O (at rest)
Rise 2 inches in 90O (uniform velocity)
Dwell 30O
Fall 2 inches in 60O (uniform velocity)
Dwell 150O

2"
Displacement

30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180° 210° 240° 270° 300° 330° 360°
Cam Rotation
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
As a point moves around the circumference of a
circle with a constant velocity, its projection on the
diameter of the circle moves with simple harmonic motion.
P5
P5'

P4 P4'

P3 P3'

P2 P2'

P1 P1'
How to plot in the displacement
diagram?

0° 30° 60° 90°

 Example 2:
Lay out the displacement diagram for a cam follower that is to have the
following motions:
Rise 2 inches in 120O (SHM)
Dwell 30O
Fall 1 inch in 90O (SHM)
Dwell 30O
Fall 1 inch in 60O (SHM)
Dwell 30O

30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180° 210° 240° 270° 300° 330° 360°
Uniformly Accelerated Motion
(Parabolic Motion)
➢ A motion of uniform or constant acceleration, often called
parabolic motion because a graph of its equation ( s = at2 / 2 ) is
a parabola.
➢ It is motion in which the displacement taking place in each
successive interval of time proportional to the square of the time.
0 Start (t = 0)
s1 1 1 End of 1 time unit (t = 1)
s2 3

s3
4 End of 2 time unit (t = 2) The figure at the left shows the
displacement, s of a falling object
5
compares with arbitrary time units
s4
9 End of 3 time unit (t = 3)

16 End of 4 time unit (t = 4)

How to plot in the displacement diagram?
First Method:

30° 60° 90° 120°

Second Method:

4
3
2
1

1 2 3 4
30° 60° 90° 120°
 Example 3:
Layout the displacement diagram for a cam follower that is to have the
following motions:
Rise 2 inches in 120O (uniform acceleration and retarded motion)
Dwell 30O
Fall 1 inch in 90O (uniform acceleration and retarded motion)
Dwell 30O
Fall 1 inch in 90O (uniform acceleration and retarded motion)

1
4

16 16

1
9 4

4 16
1
30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180° 210° 240° 270° 300° 330° 360°
Modified Uniform Velocity Motion
a) Arc Method:
This method consists merely in introducing arcs at the beginning and
at the end of the displacement period. The size of the arcs is
arbitrary, but they are usually drawn with a radius equal to one half
the displacement. The arcs are drawn first to an indefinite length then
a straight line is drawn tangent to both arcs.

s R
R

30° 60° 90° 120°

b) Uniform Acceleration Method:
This method consists in introducing short periods of uniform
acceleration or deceleration at both ends of the displacement period.

Uniform Uniform Uniform

acceleration velocity deceleration

1
4

16 9

9 16

4
1
30° 60° 90°
 Cycloidal Motion
If a circle rolls along a straight line without slipping, a point on its
circumference traces a curve that is called a cycloid.
➢ How to plot in the displacement diagram

4 5 30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180°

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
3 C 0
Diameter = s / pi
2 1