Adapted From theory of machine and mechanisms

J.E Shigley
7. Cams

Qassim University
Unayzah College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Dept.
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)
 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
 Cam types

y
y
 
Wedge cam

Plate cam

 
y

y Face cam
Barrel cam 9
 Followers

• Knife-edge
• Flat-face
• Roller
• Sperical-face

10
The displacement diagram is
drawn as follows :

1. Draw a semi-circle on the follower stroke as diameter.

2. Divide the semi-circle into any number of even equal
parts (say eight)
.
3. Divide the angular displacements of the cam during out
stroke and return stroke into the
same number of equal parts.
4. The displacement diagram is obtained by projecting the points
as shown in Fig. 20.6 (a).
The velocity and acceleration diagrams are shown in Fig. 20.6 (b)
and (c) respectively.
Since the follower moves with a simple harmonic motion, therefore
velocity diagram consists of a sine
curve and the acceleration diagram is a cosine curve. We see
from Fig. 20.6 (b) that the velocity of
the follower is zero at the beginning and at the end of its stroke
and increases gradually to a maximum at mid-stroke. On the
other hand, the acceleration of the follower is maximum at the
beginning and at the ends of the stroke and diminishes to zero at
mid-stroke.