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.

Note: 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 : Globe-wwwTutorial 6C: Barrel and Globoidal Cams

Top-Tip:

Rename each Mechanism-Editor to names that remind you of the elements you need to do Add 3D-Cam.

See Rename dialog-box

GA-Add3DCam-Prep-0

The five element you must prepare are:

Red-14-1 Part : Follower-Part in Mechanism-B

Red-14-2 Profile : Follower-Shape in Mechanism-B | Note With 3D-Cams, the sketch for the Profile must be circular.

Red-14-3 Part : Cam-Part in Mechanism-A - this must be the active Mechanism-Editor

Red-14-4 Profile : Cam-Blank in Mechanism-C

Red-14-5 Line : Line in Mechanism-C

To see the five elements, you must use Visibility toolbar > Show other Part-Outlines and Sketches

Add a 3D Cam

Name Tabs

Name Tabs

Also, prepare the view:

•Make active the Mechanism-Editor to which you have added the rotating Part for the Cam
•Click Visibility toolbar > Show other Mechanisms
•Spin the model so that you can see the 5-elements when you start Add 3D-Cam
•Do Filters menu : Display Planes to hide Planes

Icon-Add3DCam

Add 3D-Cam

STEP 1: Click Machine-Elements toolbar > Add 3D-Cam

The toolbar is to left of graphic-area

CM-Add3DCam-2

The Command-Manager now indicates you must select the five elements.

STEP 2: Click the five elements in the graphic-area

Click the elements from-top-to-bottom - see Preparation and also reminder below.

STEP 3: Click OK-tiny-13-17 in the Command-Manager

GA-Add3DCam-Prep-0

Reminder of the Elements you need before you can add a 3D-Cam:

Red-14-1b Part: Cam-Follower Part: Click the Grey Part-Outline

Red-14-2 Profile: Follower-Roller: Click the Grey Profile (contour)

Red-14-3 Part: Cam-Part: Click the Green Part-Outline in the active Mechanism-Editor

Red-14-4 Profile: Cam-Blank Profile: Click the Grey Profile (contour)

Red-14-5 Lines Line that is the axis-of-rotation of the Cam Blank: Click the Grey sketch-line

Barrel Cam Example in MechDesigner

MechDesigner adds the 3D-Cam as a 'tube' - see left.

The 3D-Cam has four surfaces, which enclose the space 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.

Accuracy Density of the 3D-Cam Surface Mesh

The 3D-Cam surfaces are defined by point. The Total Number of Points is a product of:

•Number-of-Rims along each surface. The rims are equally spaced across each surface.
•Number-of-points along each rim. The points are equally-spaced along each rim.

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.

Tutorials and Reference Help Files for MechDesigner and MotionDesigner 14.2 + © Machine, Cam, Mechanism, and Motion Design Software by PSMotion Ltd