Share
 
 

Cam Calculation Formulas

Input data:

  • Basic Radius r 0 (Disc and Cylindrical Cams)
  • Motion Length l c (Linear Cams)
  • Cam Width b c
  • Roller Radius r r
  • Roller Width b r (for Follower Shape Cylinder)
  • Eccentricity e (Disc Cams for Translating Follower)
  • Eccentricity angle α (Linear and Cylindrical Cams for Translating Follower)
  • Pivot Distance y (Disc and Linear Cams for Swinging Arm)
  • Arm Length l a (Disc and Linear Cams for Swinging Arm)
  • Reaction Arm l r (Disc and Linear Cams for Swinging Arm)
  • Speed ω (Disc and Cylindrical Cams)
  • Velocity v (Linear Cams)
  • Force on Roller F
  • Accelerated Weight m
  • Spring Rating c
  • Allowable Pressure p A1
  • Modulus of Elasticity of Cam Material E 1
  • Poisson's Ratio of Cam Material μ 1
  • Allowable Pressure p A2
  • Modulus of Elasticity of Follower Material E 2
  • Poisson's Ratio of Follower Material μ 2

Disc Cam

Linear Cam

Cylindrical Cam

 

Outside diameter = 2r 0 + b c

Inside diameter = 2r 0 - b c

Cam Segments

  • Motion Function f y (z) [ul]
  • Reverse Ratio k r (only for motion Parabolic and Parabolic with linear part)
  • Linear Part k l (only for motion Parabolic with linear part)
  • Motion Start Position l 0 [°; mm, in]
  • Motion End Position l [°; mm, in]
  • Segment Motion Length dl = l - l 0 [°; mm, in]
  • Lift at Start h 0 [mm, in]
  • Lift at End h max [mm, in]
  • Segment Lift d h = h max - h 0 [mm, in]

Lift dependencies

Disc and Cylindrical Cam

Cam rotation angle ϕ i [°]

Actual relative position in segment: z i = (ϕ i - l 0 ) / dl (range 0 - 1)

Lift

y i = dh f y (z) [mm, in]

Speed

 

Acceleration

 

Pulse

 

Linear Cam

Cam motion position l i [mm, in]

Actual relative position in segment: z i = (l i - l 0 ) / dl (range 0 - 1)

Lift

y i = dh f y (z) [mm, in]

Speed

Acceleration

 

Pulse

 

Motion functions

Cycloidal (extended sinusoidal)

This motion has excellent acceleration characteristics. It is used often for high-speed cams because it results in low levels of noise, vibration, and wear.

Lift

Speed

Acceleration

Pulse

Lift

f y (z) = z - 0.5/π sin(2πz)

Speed

f v (z) = 1 - cos (2πz)

Acceleration

f a (z) = 2π sin(2πz)

Pulse

f j (z) = 4π 2 cos(2πz)

Harmonic (sinusoidal)

Smoothness in velocity and acceleration during the stroke is the advantage inherent in this curve. However, the instantaneous changes in acceleration at the beginning and end of the motion tend to cause vibration, noise and wear.

Lift

Speed

Acceleration

Pulse

Lift

f y (z) = 0.5 (1 - cos πz))

Speed

f v (z) = 0.5 π sin (πz)

Acceleration

f a (z) = 0.5 π 2 cos(πz)

Pulse

f j (z) = -0.5π 3 sin(πz)

Linear

Simple motion with huge shock at start and at end of motion. Rarely used except in very crude devices. We recommend that you use motion with modified start and end of motion – Parabolic with linear part.

Lift

Speed

Lift

f y (z) = z

Speed

f v (z) = 1

Acceleration

f a (z) = 0

 
Note: For z = 0 and z = 1 the proper value should be an infinite value, but the calculation cannot work with an infinite value and uses a zero value.

Pulse

f j (z) = 0

 
Note: For z = 0 and z = 1 the proper value should be an infinite value but the calculation cannot work with an infinite value and uses a zero value.

Parabolic (Polynomial of 2 nd degree)

Motion with smallest possible acceleration. However, because of the sudden changes in acceleration at the start, middle, and end of the motion, shocks are produced. Revese ratio allows “stretch” of middle of motion to allow change in acceleration and deceleration ratio.

symmetrical (reverse ratio k r = 0.5)

Lift

Speed

Acceleration

 

for z = 0 to 0.5:

   

Lift

fy(z) = 2z 2

   

Speed

fv(z) = 4z

   

Acceleration

fa (z) = 4

   

Pulse

fa(z) = 0

 

for z = 0.5 - 1:

   

Lift

fy(z) = 1 - 2(1 - z) 2

   

Speed

fv(z) = 4 (1 - z)

   

Acceleration

fa (z) = -4

   

Pulse

fj(z) = 0

     
Note: For z = 0 and z = 1 the proper value should be an infinite value but the calculation cannot work with an infinite value and uses a zero value.

nonsymmetrical

k r - reverse ratio (in range 0.01 to 0.99)

Lift

Speed

Acceleration

 

for z = 0 to k r :

   

Lift

f y (z) = z 2 / k r

   

Speed

f v (z) = 2z / k r

   

Acceleration

f a (z) = 2 / k r

   

Pulse

f j (z) = 0

 

for z = k r to 1:

   

Lift

f y (z) = 1 – (1 – z) 2 / (1 – k r )

   

Speed

f v (z) = 2 (1 – z) / (1 – k r )

   

Acceleration

f a (z) = -2 / (1 - k r )

   

Pulse

f j (z) = 0

     
Note: For z = 0 and z = 1 the proper value should be an infinite value but the calculation cannot work with an infinite value and uses a zero value.

Parabolic with linear part

Provide more acceptable acceleration and deceleration than linear motion. Revese ratio allows “stretch” of middle of motion to allow change in acceleration and deceleration ratio. Linear part ratio allows set relative size of linear motion part.

Speed

Acceleration

Pulse

k r - reverse ratio (in range 0.01 to 0.99)

k l - linear part ratio (in range 0 to 0.99)

k z = 1 + k l / (1 - k l )

k h = (1 - k l ) / (1 + k l )

 

for z = 0 to k r / k z :

   

Lift

f y (z) = k h z 2 k z 2 / k r

   

Speed

f v (z) = 2 k h z k z 2 / k r

   

Acceleration

f a (z) = 2 k h k z 2 / k r

   

Pulse

f j (z) = 0

 

for z = k r / k z to r / k z + k l :

   

Lift

f y (z) = (z - 0.5 k r / k z ) 2 / (1 + k l )

   

Speed

f v (z) = 2 / (1 + k l )

   

Acceleration

f a (z) = 0

   

Pulse

f j (z) = 0

 

for z = k r / k z + k l to 1:

   

Lift

f y (z) = 1 - k h (1 - z) 2 k z 2 / (1 - k r )

   

Speed

f v (z) = 2 k h (1 - z) k z 2 / (1 - k r )

   

Acceleration

f a (z) = -2 k h k z 2 / (1 - k r )

   

Pulse

f j (z) = 0

Polynomial of 3 rd degree (cubic parabola)

Motion with smaller shocks than parabolic motion.

Lift

Speed

Acceleration

Pulse

Lift

f y (z) = (3 -2z) z 2

Speed

f v (z) = (6 - 6z) z

Acceleration

f a (z) = 6 - 12z

Pulse

f j (z) = -12

Polynomial of 4 th degree

Motion with smaller shocks than Polynomial of 3 rd degree motion.

Lift

Speed

Acceleration

Pulse

for z = 0 - 0.5

 

Lift

f y (z) = (1 - z) 8z 3

 

Speed

f v (z) = (24 - 32z) z 2

 

Acceleration

f a (z) = (48 - 96z) z

 

Pulse

f j (z) = 48 - 192z

for z = 0.5 - 1

 

Lift

f y (z) = 1 - 8z (1 - z) 3

 

Speed

f v (z) = (32z - 8) (1 - z) 2

 

Acceleration

f a (z) = (48 - 96z) (1 - z)

 

Pulse

f j (z) = 194z - 144

Polynomial of 5 th degree

Motion with smaller shocks than Polynomial of 3 rd degree motion.

Lift

Speed

Acceleration

Pulse

Lift

f y (z) = (6z 2 - 15z + 10) z 3

Speed

f v (z) = (z 2 - 2z + 1) 30z 2

Acceleration

f a (z) = (2z 2 - 3z + 1) 60z

Pulse

f j (z) = (6z 2 - 6z + 1) 60

Polynomial of 7 th degree

Smoothness in all formulas including pulse.

Lift

Speed

Acceleration

Pulse

Lift

f y (z) = (-20z 3 + 70z 2 - 84z + 35) z 4

Speed

f v (z) = (-z 3 + 3z 2 - 3z + 1) 140z 3

Acceleration

f a (z) = (-2z 3 + 5z 2 - 4z + 1) 420z 2

Pulse

f j (z) = (-5z 3 + 10z 2 - 6z + 1) 840z

Nonsymmetric Polynomial of 5 th degree

Similar like Polynomial of 5th degree but with forced lift reversion.

Note: Require combination of part 1 and part 2.

Lift

Speed

Acceleration

Pulse

Part 1

 

Lift

f y (z) = 1 - (8 (1 - z) 3 - 15 (1 - z) 2 + 10) (1 - z) 2 / 3

 

Speed

f v (z) = (2 (1 - z) 3 - 3 (1 - z) 2 + 1) (1 - z) 20 / 3

 

Acceleration

f a (z) = -(8 (1 - z) 3 - 9 (1 - z) 2 + 1) 20 / 3

 

Pulse

f j (z) = (4 (1 - z) 2 - 3 (1 - z)) 40

Part 2

 

Lift

f y (z) = (8z 3 - 15z 2 + 10) z 2 / 3

 

Speed

f v (z) = (2z 3 - 3z 2 + 1) z 20/3

 

Acceleration

f a (z) = (8z 3 - 9z 2 + 1) 20/3

 

Pulse

f j (z) = (4z 2 - 3z) 40

Double Harmonic

Smoothness in all formulas including pulse with forced lift reversion..

Note: Require combination of part 1 and part 2.

Part 1

 

Lift

f y (z) = cos(0.5π (1 - z)) 4

 

Speed

f v (z) = π (0.5 sin(πz) - 0.25 sin(2πz))

 

Acceleration

f a (z) = 0.5 π 2 (cos(πz) - cos(2πz))

 

Pulse

f j (z) = π 3 (-0.5 sin(πz) + sin(2πz))

Part 2

 

Lift

f y (z) = 1 - cos(0.5π z) 4

 

Speed

f v (z) = π (0.5 sin(πz) + 0.25 sin(2πz))

 

Acceleration

f a (z) = 0.5 π 2 (cos(πz) + cos(2πz))

 

Pulse

f j (z) = -π 3 (0.5 sin(πz) + sin(2πz))

Comparison of maximal relative values

Motion

Speed

Acceleration

Pulse

Cycloidal (extended sinusoidal)

2

6.28

39.5

Harmonic (sinusoidal)

1.57

4.93

15.5

Linear

1

Parabolic (Polynomial of 2 nd degree)

2

4

Polynomial of 3 rd degree

1.5

6

12

Polynomial of 4 th degree

2

6

48

Polynomial of 5 th degree

1.88

5.77

60

Polynomial of 7 th degree

2.19

7.51

52.5

Nonsymmetric Polynomial of 5 th degree

1.73

6.67

40

Double Harmonic

2.04

9.87

42.4

Other dependencies

Force on roller

 

F i = F + m a i + c y i [N, lb]

Normal Force

 

Fn i = F i / cos (γ i ) [N, lb]

Moment

 

T i = F i r i tan (γ i ) [Nmm, lb in]

Specific (Hertz) Pressure

 

 

b = min (b v, b k )

Was this information helpful?