This section provides an overview for cams as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 41 cam manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
A cam is a mechanical component that can change the type and direction of motion. The motion of a cam can be changed by transmitting it to a driven section through a contactor. For example, the rotational motion of a circular cam can be adjusted to the vertical movement of a rod-shaped driven section. The simple structure of this type of cam is characterized by its long service life and low maintenance. It is also a highly efficient and low-waste device because less force is transmitted to other parts. Cam comes in various shapes and sizes, and the appropriate one must be used for each application.
Cams are used in various machines and devices that require a change in the direction of motion. An example is an engine exhaust valve. Gasoline-powered automobiles emit exhaust gases when the engine is used to power the vehicle. Cams are used to exhaust these gases smoothly. Cams built inside the car change the rotational motion of the engine into a reciprocating motion of the valves. This cams motion is transmitted through the driven section to open and close the valves in a well-timed manner.
Cams come in various shapes and easily change the direction of motion. Here we introduce the principle of motion and the characteristics of each shape. Cams can be broadly divided into two types.
Flat cams
Three-dimensional cams
To design cams, the first step is to select the type of cams mechanism. Specifically, determine the type of cams (plane or three-dimensional) and the kind of installation driven (linear or oscillating type).
Next, the details of the output motion are determined. Specifically, a timing diagram for the cams is created. When creating the diagram, the 1/2 overlap method is used, in which one cam moves halfway, and the next cam begins to move.
Next, the cams mechanism is determined. Specifically, conditions such as the size of the mechanism, including the pressure angle and lever length, are determined.
The pressure angle is the angle between the direction of the force exerted on the cams by the driven section (axis) and the direction of the force exerted on the driven section by the rotation of the cams (standard). The smaller the pressure angle, the smaller the load (surface pressure load) on the surface in contact with the cams, and the smoother the cams can move.
The cam's diameter is determined based on the maximum pressure angle of the cam. The maximum pressure angle of cams should be about 30° for a linear motion type and about 45° for an oscillating type, or 45° or less for cams rotating at 100 rpm or less, and 30° or less for cams rotating at 100 rpm or more. The outer diameter of the cams should be set below this value for the maximum pressure angle.
Next, the pressure angle, radius of curvature, etc., are calculated based on the conditions determined in the previous steps to confirm that the shape is appropriate. Specifically, the pressure angle and radius of curvature are calculated strictly. We check if the maximum pressure angle, the minimum radius of curvature for convexity, the minimum radius for concavity, etc., are within the allowable range.
Finally, using the characteristic geometric data, we confirm that the surface pressure, the strength of the mechanical elements, rolling contact fatigue life, and rigidity satisfy the required performance.
Positive-acting cams are a mechanism that reliably transmits the motion of the cam to the driven section. When the cam rotates at high speed, the driven section cannot follow the movement of the cam. Therefore, a spring is used to constrain the cams so they can do their job reliably.
Examples of positive cams are frontal, cylindrical, tapered, and spherical cams.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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OneMonroe was founded in the 1920s and is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. OneMonroe is an ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified global industrial manufacturing company serving several types of customers including manufacturers, distributors and catalog-houses across several vertical markets including aerospace/defense, automotive, medical, and transportation. Product lines include adjustable handles, bearings, casters, gaskets, hydraulic clamping, military spec hinges, molded rubber, piano hinges, pins, pull handles, quick release pins, seals, springs, toggle clamps, and various harnesses. Custom manufacturing is also available to meet specific customer needs.
J.W. Winco was originally founded as Ganter in 1894 in Germany. Winco specializes in parts manufacturing. Parts offerings the operating parts segment including handles, adjusting, and positioning parts; clamping parts segment featuring tensioning, clamping, switching, and levers; and finally the machine parts segment with indexing, locking, mounting, connecting elements, guides, spindles, rollers, magnets, casters, and wheels. Winco’s complete catalog contains over 75,000 standard parts. Winco is also ISO 9001 certified. Winco offers free CAD downloads and technical documentation for many arts.
Cook-Leitch Inc. was incorporated in 1964 and serves as a distributor for engineered components and metal finishing solutions. Cook-Leitch serves a number of industries including home & commercial appliances, aerospace & defense, automotive, agriculture, fluid power & hydraulics, distribution, and heavy truck & construction equipment. Some of Cook-Leitch’s product categories include powdered metal featuring Eastern Sintered Alloys, screw machine/complex shafts featuring Precision Capital LTD, springs/wire forms/stampings featuring Wire products company, split seam tubes featuring Baker Stamping, fasteners featuring Vasco Inc, and metal finishing featuring Decal Metal Finishing, Hale Performance Coatings, and Whitaker Finishing.
BudgitHoist.com is headquartered in Forest Lawn, Illinois and is owned and operated by Sievert Electric Service and Sales Company. Sievert Electric is a distributor for Budgit Hoist who is the producer. BudgitHoist produces 1/4 to 3t electric chain hoists, air chain hoists, trolleys, repair parts, and other accessories. BudgitHoist offers additional services such overhead crane design sales, service, and repair, as well as electrical repairs and new construction. Additionally, BudgitHoist offers communication installations, repairs, and maintenance, as well as scoreboard installation repair and construction.
Supply Solutions was founded in the early 2000s and operates out of Stonewood, West Virginia. Supply Solutions is a wholesale distributor serving the telecommunications industry, including traditional CATV operators, independent telephone companies and FTTX providers, as well as the contractors that support these operations. Supply Solutions offers hardware including aerial hardware including sub-components and parts,, cables, conduits, fiber optics, power supplies, sealants, test equipment, drop & instillation products, FTTX equipment including optical enclosures, headend products, underground equipment, wireless equipment, poles, as well as test equipment.
Orr & Orr, Inc. has been offering wholesale distribution services since 1934 out of Bedford Park, IL. Orr & Orr emphasizes speed of order processing, shipping, and both customer and distributor satisfaction. Product categories that Orr & Orr offers include air conditioners, brake controls, cargo restraint equipment, door tracks, lighting equipment, fans, gas springs, heating equipment, hinges, plumbing supplies, seat belts, steps, toolboxes, hitch and towing products, various truck hardware, cables, battery products, safety equipment, and spring latches.
The Timken Company (Timken) was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in North Canton, Ohio. Timken designs, manufactures, and manages engineered bearings and industrial motion products worldwide. Timken operates in two segments, Mobile Industries and Process Industries. The Mobile Industries segment’s portfolio includes bearings, seals, and lubrication devices and systems. The Process Industries segment provides industrial bearings and assemblies; industrial motion components, such as gears and gearboxes; and linear motion products, couplings, seals, lubricants, chains, belts, and related products and services to OEMs and end users in various industries.
Essentra Components is a producer of plastic injection moulded, vinyl dip moulded, and metal components, operating in 29 countries across 4 continents. Essentra Component has a catalog of over 45,000 products. These range from caps, plugs, wire & cable management, flange protection, knobs, handles & grips, access hardware, PCB, and electronics hardware. Essentra Component offers free samples of CADs of standard parts for assist customers in creating custom-manufacture red solutions, including prototyping and 3D printing.
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