INTRODUCTION

A cam is a rotating machine element which gives reciprocating or oscillating motion to another element known as follower. The cam and follower have a point or line contact constituting a higher pair. The contact between them is maintained by an external force which is generally provided by a spring or sometimes by the weight of the follower itself when it is sufficient.

The cam converts rotary motion of one element into reciprocating (linear) motion or into oscillatory motion. The cam is the driver member and the follower is the driven member. The cam and follower mechanism is widely used for operating the inlet and exhaust valves of internal combustion engines. They are used in wall clocks and the feed mechanism of automatic lathe machines. They are also used in paper cutting machines and weaving textile machinery.

WEDGE OR FLAT CAMS

Cams may be classified based on the motion and displacement of the follower with respect to the axis of rotation or oscillation of the cams. We will focus only on Wedge or Flat cams. A flat cam has been illustrated in figure 7.2 (alongside).

A wedge cam has a wedge of specified contour. The translation motion of the wedge is imparted to the follower which either reciprocates or oscillates. Generally, a spring is used to maintain contact between the follower and the cam. Instead of wedge, a flat plate with a groove may also be used (as shown on the previous slide). An illustration of a wedge cam is shown below.

Working
(Of grooved cam)

Here, the cam reciprocates in the horizontal direction, forcing the roller-follower to trace a path strictly designed over the wedge-cam, as a groove. The follower reciprocates simultaneously in the vertical direction, as depicted by arrows.

Working
(with spring accessory)

The wedge cam reciprocates in the horizontal direction. The corresponding relative motion of the follower, which can be either roller or knife-type, is also governed by a spring, either directly attached, or through an auxiliary arm connected to it. The energy stored in the spring decides the motion of the follower.

Wedge Cams
A wedge cam has a wedge of specified contour. The translation motion of the wedge is imparted to the follower which either reciprocates or oscillates.

 Generally, a spring is used to maintain contact between the follower and the cam Here the cam has translatory motion and the profile of the cam is formed on one side of the cam. The cam moves over and back, reciprocating motion, which drives the follower vertically.

Wedge cam
Not very commonly used. Cam reciprocating motion may be due to a pneumatic or hydraulic cyliner, rack and pinion, or some other linear output device.

 Instead of wedge a flat plate with a groove is also used.

Project Submitted By:

Anshuman Sharma: 131. Raghav Sikka: 132. Raunak Drolia: 134. Chaitanya Sharma: 135 Siddharth Gupta: 136. Akshay Narayan: 137. Anurag Gupta: 138. Hrishikesh Tambraparni: 139. H.N. Manish: 140. Umair Chawla: 141.