CAM AND FOLLOWERS

A cam is a mechanical member which is used to transmit motion or used to impart desired motion to the follower by direct contact. The cam may be rotating or reciprocating whereas the follower may be rotating, reciprocating or oscillating. Complicated output motions which are otherwise difficult to achieve can easily be produced with the help of cams.

A follower in a mechanical component concerning which, the cam rotates in an oscillatory or circular motion. Follower inhibits the push and pulls of the Cam. and is used to transfer motion to the required mechanical part.

Cams are widely used in automatic machines, internal combustion engines, machine tools, printing control mechanism and so on. They are manufactured usually by die casting, milling or by punch presses.

Fig. cam and Followers

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Types of cams

1. According to Shape

[a] Wedge and flat cams
[b] Radial or disc cams
[c] Spiral cams
[d] Cylindrical cams
[e] Conjugate cams
[f] Globoidal cams
[g] Spherical cams.

2. According to Follower movement

[a] Rise-return-rise
[b] Dwell-rise-return-dwell
[c] Dwell-rise-dwell-return-dwell.

3. According to Manner of the constraint of the follower.

[a] Pre-loaded spring cam
[b] Positive drive cam
[c] Gravity cam.

Types of followers

1. According to Shape

[a] Knife-edge followers
[b] Roller followers
[c] Mushroom followers.

2. According to movement

[a] Reciprocating followers
[b] Oscillating followers

3. According to location of line of movement

[a] Radial follower
[b] Offset follower

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