ANITS J.V.BHANUTEJ, Asst.

Professor 2-2, THEORY OF MACHINES-I

Content
Introduction
Classification of cams
Classification of followers
Radial Cam terminology
Types of follower motion :
displacement, velocity and
acceleration diagrams
Introduction
Cam: it is a mechanical member used to get a desired
motion to a follower
Cam & follower: Higher pair (line or point contact)
Cam : Rotating member
Follower: Reciprocating or Oscillating
Applications : I/C engines, automatic machines
Classification of cams
Cams are classified based on
Shape of the cam
Follower movement

Type constraint used to keep the cam & follower in

contact
Different shapes of cams
Radial or Disc cams
Cylindrical cams
Wedge and flat cams
Spiral cams
Conjugate cams
Globoid cams
Spherical cams
 Classification of cams based on shape

Radial or Disc cams Spherical cams

Wedge and flat cams

Cylindrical cams Globoid cams Conjugate cams

Spiral cams
Cams based on follower movement
Rise Return Rise(R-R-R)
Dwell Rise Return Dwell(D-R-R-D)
Dwell Rise Dwell Return Dwell(D-R-D-R-D)
Dwell Rise Dwell(D-R-D)
R-R-R D-R-R-D D-R-D-R-D
D-R-D
Type constraint used to keep the cam & follower
in contact

A. Pre-loaded Spring cam

B. Positive drive cam
C. Gravity cam
A B C
Classification of followers
followers are classified based on
Shape of the follower at contact
Movement of follower

Location of line of movement of follower

Shape of the follower at contact
Knife edge follower
Roller follower
Mushroom follower
Spherical faced follower
 Spherical faced
Knife edge follower Roller follower Mushroom follower
follower
Movement of follower
Reciprocating follower
Oscillating follower
Location of line of movement of follower
Radial follower
Offset follower

Radial Offset
 Radial cam terminology

Trace point
Maximum pressure angle

Pitch point
Pitch curve Total follower path

Base circle

Prime circle
Total follower path
Pitch circle

Cam profile
Types of motions of the follower
The follower during its travel, it may have one of
the following motions.
Uniform velocity
Simple harmonic motion

Uniform acceleration and retardation

Cycloidal motion
Uniform velocity of follower
Simple Harmonic Motion of follower
Uniform acceleration and retardation of follower
 1

A cam is to give the following motion to a knife-edged follower :

1. Outstroke during 60 of cam rotation ; 2. Dwell for the next 30 of cam rotation ;
3. Return stroke during next 60 of cam rotation, and 4. Dwell for the remaining 210 of cam
rotation.
The stroke of the follower is 40 mm and the minimum radius of the cam is 50 mm. The
follower moves with uniform velocity during both the outstroke and return strokes. Draw the profile
of the cam when (a) the axis of the follower passes through the axis of the cam shaft, and
(b) the axis of the follower is offset by 20 mm from the axis of the cam shaft.
 6 7
5 8
4 9
3 10 40 mm
2 11
1 12
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
60o 30o o 60 210o
Out Return dwell
dwell
stroke stroke

40 mm
4 3 2 1
5
6
2 1 0
4 3
5
6

210o
7 7
8
8 9
10
9 11
12
10 13
11 12
 6 7
5 8
4 9
3 10 40 mm
2 11
1 12
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
60o 30o o 60 210o
Out Return dwell
dwell
stroke stroke

5 4 3
6 2
1 40 mm

54 3 2 1
7 6 0
60o
7
8 8

210o
9
9 10
11
10 12
11 13
12
2

Construct the profile of a cam to suit the following specifications :

Least radius of cam = 40 mm ; Diameter of roller = 20 mm;
Angle of lift = 60 ; Angle of fall = 60 ; Lift of the follower = 40 mm ; Number of
pauses are two, after lift 30 & after fall 210 . The follower moves with uniform
velocity during both the lift and fall of the follower. Draw the profile
of the cam when (a) the axis of the follower passes through the axis of the cam shaft
(b) the axis of the follower is offset by 20 mm from the axis of the cam shaft.
 6 7
5 8
4 9
3 10 40 mm
2 11
1 12
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
60o 30o o 60 210o
Out Return dwell
dwell
stroke stroke

40 mm
4 3 2 1
5
6
2 1 0
4 3
5
6

210o
7 7
8
8 9
10
9 11
12
10 13
11 12
3

Construct the profile of a cam to suit the following specifications :

Least radius of cam = 50 mm ; Flat faced follower;
Angle of lift = 120 ; Angle of fall = 120 ; Lift of the follower = 40 mm;
Number of pauses are two, after lift 30 & after fall 90 . During the lift, the
motion is S.H.M. During the fall the motion is uniform acceleration and
deceleration. The speed of the cam shaft is uniform.
 6 6 8
5 5 7 7
9 8
4 4 9
3 10 10 40 mm
3 11
2 11
2 1 12 12
13
1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13
120o 30o 10
120o 90o
Out Return
Dwell
stroke stroke Dwell

40 mm

2 1
3 1 0
2
3
4
4 13
5
5 12
6 12

7 11
7 11
8 10
6 9

10

8 9
4
A cam operating a knife-edged follower has the following data :
(a) Follower moves outwards through 40 mm during 60 of cam rotation.
(b) Follower dwells for the next 45.
(c) Follower returns to its original position during next 90.
(d) Follower dwells for the rest of the rotation.
The displacement of the follower is to take place with simple harmonic motion during
both the outward and return strokes. The least radius of the cam is 50 mm. Draw the
profile of the cam when
1. the axis of the follower passes through the cam axis, and
2. the axis of the follower is offset 20
mm towards right from the cam axis. If the cam rotates at 300 r.p.m., determine
maximum velocity and acceleration of the follower during the outward stroke and the
return stroke.
 5

A disc cam rotating in a clockwise direction is used to move a reciprocating roller with
simple harmonic motion in a radial path, as given below :
(i) Outstroke with maximum displacement of 25 mm during 120 of cam rotation,
(ii) Dwell for 60 of cam rotation,
(iii) Return stroke with maximum displacement of 25 mm during 90 of cam rotation,
and
(iv) Dwell during remaining 90 of cam rotation.
The line of reciprocation of follower passes through the camshaft axis. The minimum
radius of cam is 20 mm. If the cam rotates at a uniform speed of 300 r.p.m. find the
maximum velocity and acceleration during outstroke and return stroke. The roller
diameter is 8 mm. Draw the profile of the cam when the line of reciprocation of the
follower is offset by 20 mm towards right from the cam shaft axis.
6

Design a cam to raise a valve with simple harmonic motion through 50 mm in 1/3 of
a revolution, keep if fully raised through 1/12 revolution and to lower it with
harmonic motion in 1/6 revolution. The valve remains closed during the rest of the
revolution. The diameter of the roller is 20 mm and the minimum radius of the cam is
25 mm. The diameter of the camshaft is 25 mm. The axis of the valve rod passes
through the axis of the camshaft. If the camshaft rotates at uniform speed of 100
r.p.m. ; find the maximum velocity and acceleration of a valve during raising and
lowering.
7
A cam rotating clockwise at a uniform speed of 100 r.p.m. is required to
give motion to knife-edge follower as below :
(a) Follower to move outwards through 25 mm during 120 of cam
rotation,
(b) Follower to dwell for the next 60 of cam rotation,
(c) Follower to return to its starting position during next 90 of cam
rotation, and
(d) Follower to dwell for the rest of the cam rotation.
The minimum radius of the cam is 50 mm and the line of stroke of the
follower passes through the axis of the cam shaft. If the displacement of
the follower takes place with uniform and equal acceleration and
retardation on both the outward and return strokes, find the maximum
velocity and acceleration during outstroke and return stroke.
8

A cam with 30 mm as minimum diameter is rotating clockwise at a uniform speed of

1200 r.p.m. and has to give the following motion to a roller follower 10 mm in diameter:
(a) Follower to complete outward stroke of 25 mm during 120 of cam rotation with
equal uniform acceleration and retardation ;
(b) Follower to dwell for 60 of cam rotation ;
(c) Follower to return to its initial position during 90 of cam rotation with equal uniform
acceleration and retardation ;
(d) Follower to dwell for the remaining 90 of cam rotation.
Draw the cam profile if the axis of the roller follower passes through the axis of the
cam.
Determine the maximum velocity of the follower during the outstroke and return stroke
and also the uniform acceleration of the follower on the out stroke and the return stoke.
9

From the following data, draw the profile of a cam in which the follower moves
with simple harmonic motion during ascent while it moves with uniformly
accelerated motion during descent :
Least radius of cam = 50 mm ; Angle of ascent = 48 ;
Angle of dwell between ascent and descent = 42 ; Angle of descent = 60 ;
Lift of follower = 40 mm ; Diameter of roller = 30 mm ;
Distance between the line of action of follower and the axis of cam = 20 mm.
If the cam rotates at 360 r.p.m. anticlockwise, find the maximum velocity and
acceleration of the follower during descent.
TANGENT CAM: J NOSE
When the flanks of the cam are straight
and tangential to the base circle and nose I
circle, then the cam is known as a tangent G B l
O1 C
cam K FLANK
r3
G F H BASE
O1 1
r CIRCLE

K
E

r2 D
A O
1 r1
CAM PROFILE
ROLLER
O FOLLOWER
PITCH CURVE
1. When the roller has contact with straight flanks.

a
2. When the roller has contact with the nose

a
circular arc cam:
When the flanks of the cam connecting the base
circle and nose are of convex circular arcs,
then the cam is known as circular arc cam.