Laboratory Activity 8: Cams and Follower

OBJECTIVES:

 To generate cam profile.

MATERIALS:

 Pencil
 Short bond paper
 Ruler and protractor
 French curve templates (If available)

Cams are machine element having an irregularly shaped profile used to transmit motion to a
driven link known as follower to generate a predetermined and specified motion.
Cams are very important for timing purposes as used in the valves of an automobile.
FOLLOWER MOTION

When the cam rotates, the follower moves in a series of events. The follower starts at the
lowest point, in case of a roller follower, that is where the roller center intersects the prime
circle. This is the point where we measure follower displacement.

SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

Simple harmonic motion (SHM) can be expressed as:

𝑳 𝝅𝜽
𝒚= [𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔 ] ; 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 𝜃𝑟𝑖
𝟐 𝜽𝒓𝒊

For velocity, v;

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= ∙ ; 𝜔=
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
=𝜔
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝜃

𝒅𝒚 𝑳 𝝅 𝝅𝜽
𝒗= =𝝎∙ [ ∙ 𝒔𝒊𝒏 ]
𝒅𝒕 𝟐 𝜽𝒓𝒊 𝜽𝒓𝒊

For acceleration, a;

𝑑2 𝑦 2
𝑑2 𝑦
= 𝜔 [ ]
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝜃 2

𝒅𝟐 𝒚 𝟐
𝑳 𝝅𝟐 𝝅𝜽
𝒂= 𝟐
= 𝝎 ∙ [ 𝟐 ∙ 𝒄𝒐𝒔 ]
𝒅𝒕 𝟐 𝜽𝒓𝒊 𝜽𝒓𝒊

Prepared by: AJB2020

Because of the sine and cosine function, the velocity and acceleration of the follower cannot
be infinity. This avoids the difficulty experienced in uniform motion, wherein the acceleration
goes to infinity. This type of motion is used for moderate cam speeds.

Cam Displacement Diagram: SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

Draw the displacement diagram of a cam with the following follower motion:

The follower is to move with SHM during the ascent and descent.
The lift = 30 cm and the angle of ascent = 120 deg.
The angle of descent = 100 deg.
The angle of dwell between ascent and descent = 80 deg.

Procedure:

The steps in constructing the displacement diagram of a cam profile for simple harmonic motion
are as follows:

Draw a rectangle abcd with a height equal to the lift, L = 30 cm. Divide the total length of the
rectangle into 18 equal numbers of parts (or 20o increments). This will represent the total
angular rotation of the cam from 0o to 360o.

The angle of ascent is from 0o to 120o, followed by dwell from 120o to 200o, descent from 200o
to 300o and finally the follower will dwell until it reaches 360o. Mark these angular rotations in
the cam angle of rotation axis.

Follower Displacement, y

6
5
4

2
1
0o 80o 120o...
40o 200o 300o 360o
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... 10 15 18

Cam Angle of Rotation (deg)

We will now sketch the curve for the follower angle of ascent from 0o to 120o. Construct a semi-
circle with radius L/2 which is equal to 15 cm.

Then divide the semi-circle into equal parts, using the same number of parts in the horizontal
axis. Since we have an increment from 0o to 120o, we will have six equal numbers of increments
in the semi-circle.

Project horizontally the points on the circle (0, 1, 2, 3,.. etc.) until it intersects the vertical
lines (0o, 20o, 40o,… etc.) After obtaining the point of intersection, connect these points with a
smooth curve.

Prepared by: AJB2020

Follow the same procedure for the angle of descent, from 200o to 300o cam rotation.
After we construct the cam displacement diagram and select the type of follower to be used,
we can now lay out the cam profile that will achieve the desired motion.

The shape and the size of the cam will depend on the base circle and the displacement diagram
that we constructed. In this section, we will discuss the step-by-step procedures in constructing
different cam profile.

The shape of the cam is obtained by holding the cam fix while the follower is revolved around
the cam in opposite direction to the actual rotation of the cam, this concept is known as
kinematic inversion.

The procedures that we will illustrate is not the only ways in constructing a cam profile, any
methods can be used as long as the desired motion of the follower is achieved.

Cam Profile: KNIFE EDGE CAM FOLLOWER

Draw cam profile using an inline knife edge follower: (a) Follower is to rise by 50 mm during
60o of cam rotation in simple harmonic motion. (b) The follower is to dwell for the next 45o.
(c) The follower is to return to its original position in the next 90o of the cam rotation. (d)
Finally, the follower is to dwell in completing the cam rotation. The cam rotates in uniform
angular velocity in clockwise direction. The base circle diameter of the cam is 90 mm.

Cam
Cam angle, θ Degrees
Increment
Rise (ascent), θri 0o – 60o 1-4
Dwell, θd1 60o –105o 4-7
Return (descent), θri 105o – 195o 7 - 13
Dwell, θd2 195o – 360o 13 - 24

Procedure:

Construct the displacement diagram in suitable scale as shown in the Figure.

Initially, the knife edge follower is located at 0, and when the cam rotate one space clockwise
from 0 to 1, the center of the follower is pushed upward at an amount of 1-a.

Prepared by: AJB2020

Transfer distance 1-a from the cam displacement diagram to cam profile with reference to the
base circle. Continue transferring distance 2-b, 3-c, 4-d… to the cam profile 2-B, 3-C, 4-D… and
so on.

Finally, draw the cam profile by generating a smooth curve touching each and every point of
the knife edge follower.

INSTRUCTIONS: Design the motion diagram and cam profile of the given specification.
The cam lift is 35 cm. The cam raises the follower with simple harmonic motion for 120o of its
rotation followed by a period of dwell for 80o.
The follower descends for the next 80o rotation of the cam with uniform velocity, again followed
by a period of dwell. The cam is to rotate in clockwise direction at constant angular speed. The
base circle diameter of the cam is 60 mm. Specify drawing scale used.
a. Construct the displacement diagram
b. Draw the cam profile for Knife edge follower

Prepared by: AJB2020