In mechanical designing, makers require higher connecting devices, known as a cam follower mechanism, to work spontaneously or regularly. Such devices are valuable and utilized in different applications, including industrial robots and mechanical apparatuses. With nothing or the least level of mistake, the main reason for the cam follower is to convert rotational movement into linear movement.

Indeed, cam followers are accessible in different designs and types, contingent upon the machine prerequisites. The boundless number of manufacturers introduce a wide exhibit of cam followers to meet the requirements of different applications including robotized parts creation, machine instruments, mechanical robots, and other gear.

To understand the various benefits and features of cam follower, you first need to get acquainted with cam and follower. So, let’s get started!

What is Cam?

A cam is a revolving component that shifts the reciprocating or oscillating motion to the follower, which is in direct contact with the cam. In other words, a cam is a mechanical segment used to offer the ideal motion to a follower through direct contact. This mechanical part can pass the rotating movement to another part, renowned as a follower. It is additionally utilized as a rotating wheel, electric wheel, or shaft that connects with at least one point while proceeding onward on its circular path.

What is a Follower?

A follower is another mechanical component that accepts the rotating or oscillating motion of the cam due to direct contact between them. It runs vertically to the support of the cam, whereas the cam drives in a reciprocating motion.

In simple words, a cam is a driver member and a follower is a driven member.

• Features of Cam Follower

Cam and follower both act together in any machine portion. These are a more eminent pair that works together when comes in direct contact with each other. Here are the following features of cam follower:

A feature of the cam follower is its irreversibility. The crank mechanism can convert movement in both directions. So, in a gasoline or diesel engine, during the working stroke, the longitudinal stroke of the piston is converted into rotation of the crankshaft. During the exhaust stroke, the accumulated inertia of the flywheel rotation rotates the crankshaft. And the crank mechanism turns it into a reverse stroke of the piston, displacing the remaining combustion products of the working mixture from the cylinder.

The Cam Follower has a smaller and exceptionally rigid bearing on a shaft. It contains needle rollers and is utilized as a guide roller for cam systems or straight movement. Since its external ring rotates while keeping direct contact with the mating surface, this item has thick-walled and intended to bear an effective load.

In the outer ring, both needle rollers and a precision cage are consolidated. It prevents the product from skewing and helps in achieving excellent rotation performance. Now, you are proficient enough in withstanding high-speed rotation.

• Benefits of Cam Follower

The main advantage of the device is its ability to realize very complex spatial trajectories of the pusher movement. In addition, the movement can be strictly controlled in time phases, depending on the angle of rotation of the drive shaft. Moreover, its design is very simple to operate and maintain.

Another major design advantage over electrically or hydraulically actuated electronic control systems is its exceptional reliability. This is very important in those designs where it is required to achieve accurate multiple repetition of the same movements, such as a motor or a sewing machine.

• Applications

The Cam Follower is utilized in a wide scope of uses, including automatic machines, machines just for transporter systems, carriers, bookbinding machines, device transformers of machining centres, computerised covering machines, pallet changers and sliding forks of electronic stockrooms.

Cam devices are used in small and medium-sized metalworking machines for gear shifting, periodic movement of working bodies.

Another important area of ​​application is precision measuring instruments and mechanical and electromechanical automation. A contact pressure gauge and many other precision instruments widely use cam pairs to transmit the rotation of the pointer to the rod that closes the contact groups.

Purpose and Scope

The cam mechanism converts rotation into linear motion with a small amplitude. In practice, this short linear motion is used to perform the following operations:

• Coupling or disengagement of parts of the mechanism;

• Opening or closing a valve;

• The reciprocating movement of any executive body of the product;

• Repetition by the actuator of a complex spatial trajectory set in the configuration of the cam surface in advance.

Wrapping Up!

Thanks to cam follower's benefits and features, the device becomes successful in serving the best results along with providing high-performing bearing solutions. There are a number of manufacturers who are continuously looking for designing more effective devices. These mechanical components will not only provide optimal noise reduction, ease of maintenance, great versatility, but also stable and reliable performance.

One of the biggest brands that we distribute is SNB. As an industry leader & linear bearing manufacturer, SNB offers linear motion products. With over 300 employees, the highly experienced production and engineering team of SNB manufactures an impressive 2,000,000 pieces of linear bearings a month. They have also developed innovative linear products to offer a competitive edge in the market. To know more in depth, head over to this article Shafttech – SNB High-Quality Linear Motion and New Products!