DYNAMICS OF CAM AND

FOLLOWER

Todeti Somasekhara Rao

Assistant Professor
Room No. 414,
Department of mechanical Engineering,
NITK Surathkal
Mangalore 575025
[email protected]
 S V A J DIAGRAMS
 The first task faced by the cam designer is to select the mathematical functions
to be used to define the motion of the follower.
 The easiest approach to this process is to "linearize" the cam, i.e., "unwrap it"
from its circular shape and consider it as a function plotted on cartesian axes.
 S V A J DIAGRAMS
 The first task faced by the cam designer is to select the mathematical functions
to be used to define the motion of the follower.
 The easiest approach to this process is to "linearize" the cam, i.e., "unwrap it"
from its circular shape and consider it as a function plotted on cartesian axes.
 S V A J DIAGRAMS
 We plot the displacement function s, its first derivative velocity v, its second
derivative acceleration a, and its third derivative jerk j, all on aligned axes as a
function of camshaft angle e as shown in Figure 8-6.
 S V A J DIAGRAMS
 Figure 8-6a shows the specifications for a four-dwell cam that has eight
segments, RDFDRDFD.
 Figure 8-6b shows the s v a j curves for the whole cam over 360 degrees of
camshaft rotation.
 A cam design begins with a definition of the required cam functions and their s
vaj diagrams.
 S V A J DIAGRAMS
 Note that we can consider the independent variable in these plots to be either
time t or shaft angle e, as we know the constant angular velocity (J) of the
camshaft and can easily convert from angle to time and vice versa.
 DOUBLE-DWELL CAM DESIGN-CHOOSING S V A J FUNCTIONS
• The naive or inexperienced cam
designer might proceed with a
design as shown in Figure 8-8a.
• The mistake our beginning designer
is making here is to ignore the effect
on the higher derivatives of the
displacement function which results
from this simplistic approach.
• Figure 8-8b, c, and d shows the
problem.
DOUBLE-DWELL CAM DESIGN-CHOOSING S V A J FUNCTIONS
 The Fundamental law of Cam Design
 Any cam designed for operation at other than very low speeds must be designed
with the following constraints:
 The cam function must be continuous through the first and second
derivatives of displacement across the entire interval (360 degrees).
 corollary:
 The jerk function must be finite across the entire interval (360 degrees).
 The Fundamental law of Cam Design
 Any cam designed for operation at other than very low speeds must be designed
with the following constraints:
 The cam function must be continuous through the first and second
derivatives of displacement across the entire interval (360 degrees).
 corollary:
 The jerk function must be finite across the entire interval (360 degrees).
 Motion of the Follower
 The follower, during its travel, may have one of the following motions.
 1. Uniform velocity,
 2. Simple harmonic motion,
 3. Uniform acceleration and retardation,
 4. Cycloidal motion.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Uniform Velocity
 The displacement, velocity and acceleration diagrams when a knife-edged follower moves
with uniform velocity are shown in Fig. 20.4 (a), (b) and (c) respectively.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Uniform Velocity
 The abscissa (base) represents the time (i.e. the number of seconds required for the cam to
complete one revolution) or it may represent the angular displacement of the cam in
degrees.
 The ordinate represents the displacement,or velocity or acceleration of the follower.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Uniform Velocity
 Since the follower moves with uniform velocity during its rise and return stroke, therefore the
slope of the displacement curves must be constant.
 In other words, AB 1 and C1D must be straight lines.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Uniform Velocity
 A little consideration will show that the follower remains at rest during part of the cam
rotation.
 The periods during which the follower remains at rest are known as dwell periods, as shown
by lines B1C1 and DE in Fig. 20.4 (a).
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Uniform Velocity
 From Fig. 20.4 (c), we see that the acceleration or
retardation of the follower at the beginning and
at the end of each stroke is infinite.
 This is due to the fact that the follower is
required to start from rest and has to gain a
velocity within no time.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Uniform Velocity
 This is only possible if the acceleration or retardation at the beginning and at the end of each
stroke is infinite.
 These conditions are however, impracticable.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Uniform Velocity
 In order to have the acceleration and retardation within
the finite limits, it is necessary to modify the conditions
which govern the motion of the follower.
 This may be done by rounding off the sharp corners of the
displacement diagram at the beginning and at the end of
each stroke, as shown in Fig. 20.5 (a).
 By doing so, the velocity of the follower increases
gradually to its maximum value at the beginning of each
stroke and decreases gradually to zero at the end of each
stroke as shown in Fig. 20.5 (b).
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Uniform Velocity
 The modified displacement, velocity and acceleration
diagrams are shown in Fig. 20.5.
 The round corners of the displacement diagram are
usually parabolic curves because the parabolic motion
results in a very low acceleration of the follower for a
given stroke and cam speed.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Simple Harmonic Motion
 The displacement, velocity and
acceleration diagrams when the follower
moves with simple harmonic motion are
shown in Fig. 20.6 (a), (b) and (c)
respectively.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Simple Harmonic Motion

 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
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Simple Harmonic Motion
 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.
 ero at mid-stroke.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Simple Harmonic Motion
 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.
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Simple Harmonic Motion
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Simple Harmonic Motion
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams when the Follower Moves with
Simple Harmonic Motion
 Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
Consider a particle at A rotating in a circle about point O with uniform angular
speed, as shown in Fig.8.10(a), and executing simple harmonic motion (SHM).
 Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
The displacement curve shown in Fig.8.10(b) can be constructed as follows:
1. Draw a semicircle with follower lift as the vertical diameter.
2. Divide this semicircle into n equal parts (say 6, i.e., 30º each).
3. Draw cam rotation angle along the x-axis. Mark the angles of ascent, dwell, descent, and dwell
on this line.
 Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
4. Divide the angles of ascent and descent into same equal number of parts.
5. Draw vertical lines at these points.
6. Draw horizontal lines from the points on the circumference of the semicircle to intersect the
vertical lines.
7. Mark the points of intersection and join by a smooth curve to obtain the displacement
diagram.
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)-Motion Analysis
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)-Motion Analysis
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)-Motion Analysis
 CAM PROFILE WITH KNIFE–EDGE FOLLOWER
A disc cam is to give SHM to a knife edge follower during out stroke of 50 mm. The angle of
ascent is 120° , dwell 60°, and angle of descent 90°. The minimum radius of cam is 50 mm. Draw
the profile of the cam when the axis of the follower passes through the axis of the camshaft.
Also calculate the maximum velocity and acceleration during ascent and descent when the
camshaft revolves at 240 rpm.
CAM PROFILE WITH KNIFE–EDGE FOLLOWER
 CAM PROFILE WITH KNIFE–EDGE FOLLOWER
Displacement diagram
The displacement diagram shown in Fig.8.19(a) may be drawn as follows:
1. Draw a vertical line 0-6 equal to the lift of 50 mm.
2. Draw a semicircle on this line and divide the semicircle into six equal parts of 30° each.
3. Draw a horizontal line 00’ perpendicular to 0-6 line representing cam rotation angle on a scale
of 1 cm= 20°.
 CAM PROFILE WITH KNIFE–EDGE FOLLOWER
Displacement diagram
4. Divide the ascent angle of 120° into six equal parts and also the descent angle of 90° into six
equal parts.
5. Erect perpendiculars at points 0 to 6 and 6’ to 0’.
6. Draw horizontal lines from points 1 to 5 on the semicircle to intersect vertical lines drawn
previously, as shown in the figure.
7. Join the points of intersection with a smooth curve to get the displacement diagram.
 CAM PROFILE WITH KNIFE–EDGE FOLLOWER
Cam profile
The cam profile shown in Fig.8.19(b) may be drawn
as follows:
1. Draw a circle of radius equal to the base circle
radius of 50 mm with center O.
2. Draw angles of ascent, dwell and descent of
120°, 60° and 90°, respectively. Divide the angles of
ascent and descent into six equal parts. Draw
radial lines for these angles.
 CAM PROFILE WITH KNIFE–EDGE FOLLOWER
Cam profile
The cam profile shown in Fig.8.19(b) may be drawn
as follows:
3. Mark points 0 to 6 and 6’ to 0’ on the base circle
in the angles of ascent and descent, respectively.
4. Measure distance 1a, 2b, 3c, 4d, 5e, and 6f from
the displacement diagram for ascent and cut-off
corresponding distances on the radial lines drawn
in the cam profile. Repeat the same process
during descent.
5. Join the points so obtained by a smooth curve to
get the cam profile.
 CAM PROFILE WITH KNIFE–EDGE FOLLOWER
The following procedure may be adopted to draw the cam profile with knife edge follower:
1. Draw the displacement diagram for follower motion.
2. Consider that cam remains stationary and that the follower moves round it in a direction
opposite to the direction of cam rotation.
3. Draw the cam base circle and divide its circumference into equal number of divisions
depending upon the divisions used in the displacement diagram.
4. Draw various positions of follower with dotted lines corresponding to different angular
displacement from the radius from which ascent is to commence.
5. Draw a smooth curve tangential to the contact surface in different positions.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM 1
EXAMPLE PROBLEM 1
EXAMPLE PROBLEM 1
EXAMPLE PROBLEM 1