Menu | Mechanism | Add 3D-Cam

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Menu | Mechanism | Add 3D-Cam

Add 3D-Cam

See also 3D-Cam dialog-box

What is a 3D-Cam?

A 3D-Cam has complex surfaces with Cam-Flanks that interact with Cam-Followers Rollers.

Barrel, Cylindrical and Globoidal Cams are 3D-Cams. Globoidal Cams are also known as Roller-Gear-Drives and Ferguson Cams.

Terminology:

Cam-Part :	The Part to which we add the 2D-Cam
Cam-Follower :	The shape of the Profile that is in continuous-contact with the 2D-Cam.
Follower-Part :	The Part to which we add the sketch-loop and Profile as the Cam-Follower.
Cam-Follower Roller:	A Cam-Follower that is Circular. It represents a roller-bearing, or Pin.
Flat-Faced Cam Follower :	A Cam-Follower that is the longer Line of a long Rectangle. It represent a Flat Plate.

Prepare 3D-Cam

You must prepare the model with five(5) elements.

Also:

•3 Mechanism-Editors for a Barrel Cam

•4 Mechanism-Editors for a Globoidal Cam

All Parts are kinematically-defined before you do Add 3D-Cam.

We recommend you do these tutorials if you have not used this command before: Tutorial 6C: Barrel and Globoidal Cams

Top-Tip: Rename the Mechanism-Editors to the names of the elements you need to Add 3D-Cam. See Rename dialog-box

MD-GA-3DCam-Mechanism-Nametabs

MD-GA-Add3DCam-Prep-0

Prepare the view:

1.Click Visibility toolbar > Show other Kinematic and Sketch elements

To show the Other Kinematic and Sketch elements in each Mechanism-Editor:

1.Right-click the name-tab of each Mechanism-Editor that has an element you need to add a 3D-Cad

2.Click Show with other Kinematic and Sketch elements

Do not show Solids to Add 3D-Cam

1.De-select Visibility toolbar > Show Solids in Mechanism-Editor

Prepare the five elements:

Part : Follower-Part in Mechanism-B

Profile : Follower-Roller in Mechanism-B | the Profile must be circular.

Part : Cam-Part in Mechanism-A - this must be the active Mechanism-Editor

Profile : Cam-Blank in Mechanism-C

Line : Line in Mechanism-C

Add 3D Cam

MD-CM-Add3DCam-2

STEP 1: Click Add 3D-Cam

1.Mechanism-Editor: Add menu > Mechanism menu > Add 3D-Cam

- or -

1.Mechanism-Editor: Machine-elements toolbar > Add 3D-Cam

There are five elements to select in the Command-Manager

Elements to add a 3D-Cam:

Elements to add a 3D-Cam:

STEP 2: Click the five elements, from top-to-bottom, in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree.

Part: Cam-Follower Part: Click the Grey Part-Outline

Profile: Cam-Follower Roller: Click the Grey Profile (contour)

Part: Cam-Part: Click the Green Part-Outline in the active Mechanism-Editor

Profile: Cam-Blank Profile: Click the Grey Profile (contour)

Lines Line that is the axis-of-rotation of the Cam-Blank: Click the Grey sketch-line

STEP 3: Complete the command

3.Command-Manager: Click in the Command-Manager.

MD-GA-3DCam-Example

Result : Graphic-Area

MechDesigner adds the 3D-Cam

The 3D-Cam has four surfaces, which enclose the volume you will cut from a Cam-Blank

Four Surfaces

•Cam Flank Surface x 2 - one flank to each side of the Follower-Roller

•Floor Surface - a surface between the bottom edges of the Cam-Flank Surfaces

•Top Surface - a surface between the top edges of the Cam-Flank Surfaces. This surface should be outside of the Cam-Blank.

To edit the 3D-Cam parameters: See 3D-Cam dialog-box

Video: