To learn how to model different cam types.

To improve your modeling skills.

Please do tutorials 1,2,3, and 5 before Tutorial 6.

In machines, Cams impart motions to Followers.

Usually, the Cam has a simple motion and the Follower has a more complex motion.

It is possible that the Cam or the Follower is stationary. Also, the Cam and the Follower may both have complex motions.

➔6A1: 2D-Cams – Rotating Cam & Circular Follower

➔6A2: 2D-Cams – Rotating Cam & Flat-faced Follower

➔6C : 3D-Cams – Barrel and Globoidal Cams

➔6D : 2D-Cams – A Stationary Linear 2D-Cam

➔6E : 2D-Cams – Design of Cams for a Cycloidal Gear Reducer - YouTube Tutorial

➔6F : 2D-Cams – Design of Cams for a Parallel-Indexer - YouTube Tutorial

Cam (or Cam-Part) :

The Part to which you add the 2D-Cam to generate the shape of the Cam-Profile.

Cam-Shaft :

The most common Cam-Part. It is a rotating-Part (a shaft), to which you add the 2D-Cam (or 3D-Cam) as a Cam-Profile. A Cam-Shaft usually rotates with a constant angular-velocity.

Cam-Profile :

The shape of the 2D-Cam (or 3D-Cam). Its surface is in continuous contact with the Follower-Profile.

Track-Cam or Groove-Cam :

A groove that is cut into a Cam-Blank with an Outer and an Inner Cam-Profile. A Follower-Roller fits in the groove.

Follower (or Follower-Part) :

The Part that supports the Follower-Profile.

Follower Kinematic-Chain

(or Kinematic Mechanism) :

The Follower-Part (and other Parts that you join to the Follower-Part) to move the Tooling, Tool-Part or End-Effector.

Follower-Profile :

The shape of a machine component that is rigidly connected to the Follower-Part. Its surface is in continuous contact with the Cam-Profile.

Follower-Roller :

A Follower-Profile that is cylindrical or barrel-shaped. It is rigidly connected to the Follower-Part.

Flat-faced Follower : 

A Follower-Profile that is a flat surface. It is rigidly connected to, or integrated with, the Follower-Part.

Translating Follower :

A Follower-Part that slides along a straight axis.

Reciprocating Motion :

A Translating Follower with a non-progressive motion.

Rotating Follower :

A Follower-Part that rotates about a fixed axis.

Oscillating Motion :

A Rotating Follower with a non-progressive motion.

Progressive Motion :

A motion, usually followed by a Dwell, that moves the Follower-Part progressively in one direction.

Non-Progressive Motion :

A motion that returns the Follower-Part to its original position after each machine cycle.

Indexing :

A progressive motion, usually rotating.

Indexer :

A device whose input is a constant-speed (usually) Cam-Shaft and output is a rotating-Part with a progressive motion. The input rotates one time to index the output by the Index-Angle one time. The Index-Angle is such that 360º/(Index-Angle) is an integer. The Integer is also termed the Number-of-Stops of the Indexer.

Cam-Blank :

The material from which you cut the shape of the Cam-Profile.