Sets parameters for the design of a disc cam.
Click Calculate to perform the calculation of geometric parameters.
Access: | Ribbon: Design tab ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Specifies parameters of the cam. Use the pull-down menu to select Component or No Model Option. If you select Component, the Cylindrical Face and Start Plane commands are enabled. If you select No Model, the commands are not available.
Specifies parameters of the follower.
Specifies parameters of cam segments.
Actual Segment | Use the pull-down menu to select actual segment. |
Motion Function | Use the selection list to select the appropriate motion. Click Plus (Add) to open the Add Motion dialog box where you can specify your own motion, which is added to the list. Other commands are available only when a motion is selected in the list. The Minus (Delete) command deletes current/selected user motion. |
Add Before | Adds segment before the currently selected segment. |
Delete | Deletes current segment. |
Add After | Adds segment after the currently selected segment. |
As you select a button on the toolbar, a corresponding quantity graph displays in this area. To turn off the display of a graph, clear the selection.
If you place the cursor above the graphs area, a tooltip displays with graph values that correspond to units of the actual cursor position.
You can select the cam segment in an index in the combo box in the Actual Segment area, or by click an appropriate position in the graph area.
Zoom switches on/off the zoom to the cam element graphs only.
Save graph data to file saves all graph data and data about the cam profile and follower path to the tab delimited text file. You can open the saved data in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, if desired. Following columns are generated:
Displays additional options for cam design.
Number of Split Points
Gives an accurate, detailed cam calculation, export values (the Calculation option), and part accuracy when inserting into Autodesk Inventor (the Model option). The angle between drawn points is specified by number of points on a circle (360 points means a 1 degree angle distance of points).
To display the Results area on the right side of the Calculation and Design tabs, double-click the double line on the right or click the chevron.
The area displays the limiting values of calculated parameters, result of strength check, and cam shape. Values are calculated when the Calculate command is pressed.
Following output parameters are displayed on the Results pane:
Displays the reports about calculation. To open the Summary of Messages area at the bottom of the Calculation and Design tabs, double-click the double line at the bottom of tabs or click the chevron at the bottom of the tabs.