3.

1 Types of follower motion

1. Simple harmonic motion

2. Uniform motion ( constant velocity)
3. Uniform acceleration and retardation motion
4. Cycloidal motion
 Displacement (Lift): 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.

 Displacement diagram: 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) Simple Harmonic motion
a) Simple Harmonic motion

RISE FALL

60 120 180 240 300

360 = ONE REVOLUTION OF CAM = 1 CYCLE

 a) 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.
Motions of the follower
Simple Harmonic motion

BITS, PILANI – K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS 46

 Motions of the follower
Simple Harmonic motion

s = Follower displacement (instantaneous)

h = maximum follower displacement
v = velocity of the follower;
ω = Angular velocity of the cam
f = acceleration of the follower
 = cam rotation angle (instantaneous) = ωt
φ = cam rotation angle for the maximum follower displacement
BITS, PILANI – K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS 47
Motions of the follower
Simple Harmonic motion

BITS, PILANI – K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS 48

Motions of the follower
Simple Harmonic motion

It can be seen from the plots of Fig. that

there is an abrupt change of
acceleration from zero to maximum at the
beginning of the follower motion
and also from maximum (negative) to zero
at the end of the follower motion
when the follower rises.

Similar abruption would also be there at th

e start and end of the return
motion. As these abrupt changes result in
infinite jerk, vibration and noise etc.

The programme should be adopted only for

low or moderate cam speeds.
b) 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
a) Uniform motion (constant velocity)
Motions of the follower
Uniform motion

BITS, PILANI – K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS 56

Motions of the follower
Uniform motion

As seen in the plots of Fig.

(a), though acceleration is
zero during the rise or the fall
of the follower, it is infinite at
the beginning and end of the
motion as there are abrupt
changes in velocity at these
points.
This results in infinite inertia
forces and thus, is not
suitable from practical point of
view.
BITS, PILANI – K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS 57
Motions of the follower
Uniform motion

A modified programme for the

follower motion can be evolved in
which the accelerations are
reduced to finite values.
This can be done by rounding the
sharp corners of the
displacement curve so that the
velocity changes are gradual at
the beginning and end of the
follower motion.
During these periods, the
acceleration may be assumed to
be constant and of finite values.
A modified constant velocity
programme is shown in Fig. (b).
BITS, PILANI – K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS 58
 c) Uniform (constant)acceleration and
retardation

In such a follower programme, there is acceleration in the first

half of the follower motion, whereas it is deceleration during the
later half. The magnitude of the acceleration and the
deceleration is the same and constant in the two halves.
c) Uniform (constant)acceleration and
retardation
c) Uniform (constant)acceleration and
retardation
c) Uniform (constant)acceleration and
retardation

It can be observed from the

plots shown in Fig. that
there are abrupt changes in
the acceleration at the
beginning, midway and the
end of the follower motion.
At midway, an infinite jerk is
produced.
Thus, this programme of the
follower is adopted only up
to moderate speeds.
Layout of cam profile: roller follower

64
Constructing cam profile:
kinematic inversion principle
 Consider that cam is stationary and that
follower rotates in the opposite direction than
the cam does in reality

66
Example:

Draw the profile of a cam operating a knife-edge follower having a

lift of 30mm. The cam raises the follower with SHM for 150deg of
the rotation followed by a period of dwell for 60deg. The follower
descends for the next 100deg rotation of the cam with uniform
velocity, again followed by a dwell period. The cam rotates at a
uniform velocity of 120rpm clockwise and has a least radius of 20
mm. What will be the maximum velocity and acceleration of the
follower during lift and the return ?
Draw the cam profile.

BITS, PILANI – K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS 67

Solution:

BITS, PILANI – K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS 68

Solution:

BITS, PILANI – K. K. BIRLA GOA CAMPUS 69

 2’ 1’ rc
O’
1
3’ 2 12 11’
Øa δ2
3 11
4’ 10’
4 10
O
9
Ød 9’
5 8
δ1 7 8’
6
6
5’
7’
6’
6’