Cam Design and Calculation Dialog Box (AutoCAD Mechanical Toolset)

Use the Cam Design and Calculation dialog box to specify the type of cam you want to design, the type of follower, the type of cam profile, and the insertion point for the cam mechanism in the drawing. Depending on the data you specified you can then specify the displacement, velocity, and the acceleration diagrams for the cam-follower mechanism. From those diagrams, the geometrical shape of the cam is created and inserted in the drawing.

Cam Button

Use the Cam button to,

• Set the type of cam to linear, circular, or cylindrical.
• Set the rotation direction and rpm.
• Set the starting angle of the cam.
• Define the diameter of the undefined cam as a starting reference.

Follower Button

Use the Follower button to set the type of follower to translating or swinging, and to set the dimensions of the roller.

Profile Button

Use the Profile button to set the type of profile to inner, outer, or both outer, and to define the value of the offset, and the depth of the groove.

Location Button

On the command line, specify the center of the cam, the starting point for movement, the angle of movement, and the position and length of the movement diagram.

Define all positions in UCS. You can change the values you specified on the command line in the Cam Design and Calculation dialog box.

Motions Button

Use the Motions button to,

• Define motion segments for cam rotation and follower displacement.
• Choose whether to append or insert.
• Set the motion type to sinusoidal, trapezoidal, or polynomial equation.
• Set the previous and next segment's boundary conditions.
• Simulate the follower movement for all the segments.

Strength Button

Use the Strength button to,

• Define loads affecting the cam-follower mechanisms.
• Define the arm type of the follower and its dimensions.
• Define the spring data, including preload and mass.
• Define material properties.

Results Button

Use the Results button to,

• Optimize the cam for the smallest possible size and least radius of curvature by adjusting its center.
• Verify safety and stresses using the different tabs.
• Generate a 3D solid of the cam, using external or internal profiles.
• Simulate the motion to obtain values along different segments of the motion.

Export Button

Use the Export button to,

• Export to a NC file or DXF file (versions 2000, 14, 13, 12).
• Write out either the cam or the follower curves, or both.
• Export NC data to a text file in Cartesian or Polar coordinates.
• Set the center and direction of rotation of the cam.

Calculation

Use the Calculation button to obtain results.