Mechanics of Machines

MCB3043

Lecture 15
Overview
 Cam Motion
 Cam in an Engine Valve
 Categories of Cam & Cam Followers
 Prescribed Follower Motion
 Follower Motion Scheme
 Cam Design: Graphical Method
 Cam Design: Analytical Method
 Pressure Angle
 Design Limitations
 Cam Nomenclature

Smallest circle
Cam Home Position:
centred on the cam
Orientation that
rotation axis.
corresponds to the 0°
position on a
displacement diagram.

Circle drawn through Ref point for the location

the trace point of the of the follower (for knife-
follower while the cam edge and flat-faced
is at its home position followers, the point is in
contact with the cam)

For knife-edge and flat- Path taken by

faced type followers, the follower
base circle = prime circle
Displacement Diagram
Displacement diagram is required to construct
the cam profile.
 Cam Profile Construction
Steps
1. Draw base circle
2. Draw follower in home position
3. Draw radial lines with 30°
equally spaced
4. Transfer displacements from
displacement diagram onto the
radial lines extending from the
base circle outward
5. Draw a smooth curve through
the prescribed displacements
 Cam Profile Construction

1. Draw base circle

2. Draw follower in home position
3. Draw equally-spaced radial
lines (say 30°)
4. Transfer displacements from
displacement diagram onto the
radial lines extending from the
base circle outward
5. Draw a smooth curve through
the prescribed displacements

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360

Cam Profile Design
with in-line roller follower

1. In addition to the
base circle, draw the
prime circle

2. Transfer
displacements from
displacement
diagram onto the
radial lines extending
from the prime
circle outward.
 Pressure Angle
The cam does not always
push the follower in the
direction of its motion
because the force is always
transmitted perpendicular
to surfaces in contact.

The pressure angle, , is

the angle of the path of
follower motion and the line
perpendicular to the cam
profile at the point of
follower contact.
Pressure Angle
 Contact forces act perpendicular to the surfaces in contact.

00

300


F

 Pressure angle, , is measured between the line of follower motion and the
contact force.
 Pressure Angle

Only the component of

contact force in line with
follower motion is desired.
Fbearing
The force component
normal to motion is to be
absorbed by other parts of
the follower e.g. bearings. F
c
Fcy=mfolafol
Fcx
Pressure Angle

• might be changing as the cam

rotates
• Should take note the
maximum value which indicate
the greatest curvature
• Should be minimised, should
not exceed 30°
Pressure angle can be reduced by:
 Increasing the size of the base circle
 Decreasing the magnitude of follower
displacement
 Increasing the angle of cam rotation
prescribed for the follower rise or fall
 Decreasing the amount of follower offset
 Modifying the follower motion scheme
Impractical Cam with a Roller
Follower

At cam angle 135°,

• Rapid rise and fall
• The roller is not pushed to the
desired position

Can be rectified to a certain degree

by:
• Increasing base circle diameter 
take up more space!
• Reducing roller follower diameter
 increase the contact stress
between cam surface and follower
Analytical Cam Design
 The follower displacement diagram can be
generated analytically.
 Formulae for various types of motion schemes for
the rises and falls are available.
 The cam profile can be automatically plotted using
common spreadsheet from the displacement
diagram.