Cam-Data FB > Cam-Coordinates
See Add Cam-Data FB
We use the Cam-Data FB to:
•Calculate the Inner, Outer, and Pitch-Line Cam-Coordinates for a 2D-Cam
•Export the Cam-Coordinates directly to SolidWorks
•Save the Cam-Coordinates as a TXT, DXF, or STP file.
•Define diameter, thickness, and the depth of the Cam groove (if a groove cam) for the STEP file.
2D-Cam - work-flow
1.Add a 2D-Cam - see Add 2D-Cam If the new 2D-Cam is a Conjugate-Cam or a Groove-Cam* (that is, a Body-Closed Cam): 1.a. Add a Conjugate-Cam FB - see Add Conjugate Cam FB 1.b. Edit the Conjugate-Cam FB - add 2×flanks of the 2×2D-Cams - see Conjugate-Cam dialog-box. 2.Select the 2D-Cam or the Conjugate-Cam as the Power Source for the Follower - see Configure-Power Source 3.Edit the 2D-Cam to edit which cam-profile to display: Display, Properties, Life, ... - see below 4.Add a Cam-Data FB - see Add Cam-Data FB 5.Edit the Cam-Data FB to link it to the 2D-Cam- - see Link the Cam-Data FB to a 2D-Cam 6.Connect wires from the Cam-Data FB to a Graph FB to analyse 5 parameters see Cam Analysis 7. Edit the Cam-Data FB again to Calculate, Export and Save the Cam-Coordinates - see below YOU ARE HERE: |
Cam-Data dialog-box: Cam-Coordinates
If necessary, link the Cam-Data FB with a 2D-Cam - see Cam-Analysis |
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Clear ALL Data from the Table |
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Save Cam-Coordinate Data as: •STEP - (XY Points •DXF •CRV (Header + # Data-Point, X-data, Y-data, Z as 0s) •TXT (Header, # Data-Point, X-data, Y-data, Z as 0s) •SLDCRV (No header, tab delimited, XY-Points, Z as 0s) Note: If this icon is not enabled, then make sure the Plate-Radius parameter is larger than the Maximum Radius of the Outer Cam. See STEP File Options. |
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Copy Coordinates to your Clipboard |
If Cam Option |
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- Inner-Cam - Outer-Cam - Pitch-Curve ( XY-Points only ) |
Toggle how to Calculate the Cam: |
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XY-Points - Calculate Cam with X-Y Coordinates Enter the Number-of-Points # Points. Use Calculate the 2D-Cam at equal increments of the Master Machine Angle. |
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Biarcs - Calculate Cam with Biarcs with a Maximum Chordal Error (see Biarcs) Enter the maximum Chordal-Error as BiArc Error The number of Biarcs is a function of the BiArc Error and the shape of the Cam-Profile. Click Rebuild after you edit BiArc Error |
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Before you click this button, make sure that SOLIDWORKS is open and the active document is a part document (SLDPRT). Bi-Arcs are sent to SOLIDWORKS as Arc sketch entities. XY-Points are sent to SOLIDWORKS as a list for the SOLIDWORKS Curve feature. Use Convert-Entities in SOLIDWORKS to convert the Curve to a Spline sketch entity. See also Note 4 |
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The X and Y coordinates of the Cam-Profile are calculated automatically Biarcs, are also calculated automatically, but it will take more time to complete. If the Traffic-Light icon remains RED, click the Traffic-Lights icon again. |
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Display a preview of the cam-profile. |
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Read-only - the Cam is Open or it is Closed |
to switch between XY-Points and Biarcs.
to toggle between the 
- End Caps
End Caps relate only to Slot-Cams, also known as Linear-Cams, or Ramp-Cams. |
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 End-Caps - Show |
Show or Hide End-Caps |
End-Caps work well when the independent axis to the Cam-Follower moves in one direction only - see image “End-Caps - Show” If the independent axis reverses its direction in the middle of its travel, you will see False End-Caps in the middle of the Slot-Cam. - see image: “Slot-Cam with 'False' End-Caps”. Before you export Cam-Coordinates we recommend you add a dummy slot-cam - and move the main axis of the Slot-Cam in one direction at Constant-Velocity, over one machine-cycle. To make sure the Constant-Velocity is correct: 1.Connect a wire from a Linear-Motion-FB to a Gearing FB 2.In the Gearing FB, enter a Gearing Ratio = maximum Travel distance of Cam/360). 3.Connect a wire from the Gearing FB to the Motion-Dimension FB as the motion of the Slot-Cam. As the MMA increases from 0 to 360, the Cam will travel from 0 to Maximum Travel distance of Cam (mm). |
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 Slot-Cam with 'False' End-Cams |
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 End-Caps - Hide |
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- Cam Status
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The cam-coordinates have been calculated. The Radius-of-Curvature is more than the Cam ROC Soft-Limit parameter as set in the 2D-Cam dialog-box |
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The cam-coordinates have not been calculated - usually after you edit the # Points or the BiArc Error. |
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It is not possible to calculate the cam-coordinates correctly, possibly because of under-cutting. |
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The cam-coordinates have been calculated. The Cam's Radius-of-Curvature is less than Cam ROC Soft-Limit as set in the 2D-Cam dialog-box - Undercutting is possible. |
- Cam Options
Calculate, Display, and/or Save the Cam-Coordinates: |
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•Inner Cam-Profile ONLY |
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•Outer Cam-Profile ONLY |
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•Groove-Cam If you select Groove-Cam option, AND if you toggle |
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•Negative-Groove The Negative-Groove option applies only when you want to save the Cam as a STEP file-type - see The STEP file is the space filled by the path of the Cam-Follower along the cam-profile (plus or minus any Radial Clearance). |
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- Radial-Clearance
 Example Radial-Clearance  Cam with 0.2mm Radial Clearance |
See also : 2D-Cam dialog-box > Parameters tab > Cam Range and Radius Radial Clearance (mm) Default = 0 , Negative or Positive Positive Value - the cam is resized to give a clearance between the Cam-Follower and the Cam-Profile. AND: Negative Value - the cam is resized to give an interference between the Cam-Follower and Cam-Profile. |
Applications: E.G.1: Groove-Cam - to add a small clearance (Positive Value) for a Cam-Follower bearing in a Groove cam-type (See Note ) E.G. 2: Conjugate-Cam - to add a small clearance (Positive Value) to compensate for tolerances in the cam assembly. E.G. 3: Rough-Cut - to oversize the cam for a Rough-cut. Radial-Clearance should be a Negative-Value Note: Stud-type Cam-Followers often have a large negative tolerance bias - e.g. . You may consider that to be enough clearance. |
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- Cam-Coordinates
 Max Chord-Error with BiArcs |
Apply this maximum Chord-Error between the true Cam-Profile and the Biarcs. |
 Number of XY Points |
Calculate these number of Points on the true Cam-Profile at equal increments of the Master-Machine Angle. |
Options for: Save as .STEP file-type
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Dimensions for STEP file ONLY
These images are of a Groove cam-type that are saved as the STEP file-type, and then opened in SolidWorks to show the features.
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The total depth of the Cam-Plate. |
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The depth of the Cam cut into the Cam-Plate. The width of the Cam-Flanks. Plate-Depth – Cam-Depth ≥ 2 mm |
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The radius of the Cam-Plate, when you select an Outer-Cam or a Groove-Cam - see |
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The radius of the hole through the center of the Cam-Plate |
Schematics of Cam type and are the Dimensions OK or Not-OK?
Status of Cam Type, Blank-Radius and Bore-Radius relative to Cam-SizeThe Plate-Radius The Bore-Radius |
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You can save the STEP file. |
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You can NOT save the STEP file. |
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You can NOT save the STEP file. |
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You can save the STEP file. |
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Minimum/Maximum Radius of Cams, Offset X and Offset Y.
Minimum of Inner-Cam and Maximum of Outer-Cam (see also  These value are useful to know when you want to make sure there is a minimum wall thickness between •the Bore diameter and the Inner Cam-Profile and •the Plate diameter of the Outer Cam-Profile. X-Offset and Y Offset When the Cam is a Stationary Cam: enter an X-Offset and Y-Offset to move the center of the Cam-Plate relative the 0,0 of the Mechanism-Plane / Base-Part.
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Notes: