Kinematics of Cams, Calculated by Graphical Methods

Abstract

This paper presents the application of graphical methods for the calculation of velocity and acceleration of cams. The theory of the graphical methods is explained, its application to problems comprising various shapes of cams is presented, and changes in kinematic conditions due to variation in the shape of the cam are described. These results are shown in tables and plotted in graphs in order to present a comparison of the forces produced by the various cams. Particular care has been taken to describe the graphical methods in such a way that they can be readily employed in every-day work without referring each time to the theoretical analyses.

So far as the author is aware, no such demonstration and comparison of cams has thus far been published and it is his wish that this very simple graphical method may find wide employment with engineers who use cams in their work.