Add 3D-Cam
See also 3D-Cam dialog-box
What is a 3D-Cam?
A 3D-Cam has complex surfaces that represent the Cam-Flanks. The rotational axes of the Cam-Part and the rotational axis of the Cam-Follower are usually perpendicular and offset to each other.
Barrel, Cylindrical and Globoidal Cams are 3D-Cams. Globoidal Cams are also known as Roller-Gear-Drives and Ferguson Cams.
Prepare 3D-Cam
You must add 5 elements in:
| • | 3 Mechanism-Editors for a Barrel Cam |
| • | 4 Mechanism-Editors for a Globoidal Cam. |
We recommend you do these online tutorials if you have not used this command :  Tutorial 6C: Barrel and Globoidal Cams
Top-Tip: Rename the three or four Mechanism-Editors to the names of the elements you need to select to .
See Rename dialog-box
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Prepare the view:
| • | Active Mechanism-Editor - click the Mechanism name-tab with the Part to which you will add the 3D-Cam |
| • | - you need to see elements in the other Mechanism-Editors |
| • | light-bulb - right-click each Mechanism name-tab and select 'show .... '. |
| • | - you need to see all 5-elements before you can do |
| • | - hide Planes as they often hide the elements you need to do |
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Prepare the five element:
 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
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Add 3D Cam
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| STEP 2: | Click the five elements, from top-to-bottom, in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree. |
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Elements to add a 3D-Cam:
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
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| STEP 3: | Click  in the Command-Manager |
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Result:
MechDesigner adds the 3D-Cam as a tube - see left.
The 3D-Cam has four surfaces, which enclose the volume you will cut from a Cam-Blank
Four Surfaces
| • | Cam Flank Surface x 2 - the active flanks of the roller, one 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 is normally outside of the Cam-Blank. |
Use the 3D-Cam dialog-box to edit the number of rims and the number-of-points, to specify the density of the mesh and 3D-Cam Surfaces.
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Video:
