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Flip to reveal answersHow does a cam produce motion?
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All 4 Flashcards — Cams
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Question
How does a cam produce motion?
Answer
A shaped disc turns on a shaft and a follower rides its edge. Where the profile is far from the shaft the follower rises; where it is close it drops. The profile is the motion.
Question
Name the six cam shapes and what each gives.
Answer
Pear — a dwell then one rise. Circular and eccentric — one smooth rise, set by the offset. Triangular — three rises per turn. Oval — two. Snail — a gradual rise then a sudden drop, one direction only.
Question
What is a dwell?
Answer
A stretch of constant radius on a cam profile, where the follower holds still while the shaft keeps turning. It is why a pear cam suits an engine valve.
Question
What sets the stroke of an eccentric cam?
Answer
The offset of the shaft from the centre of the disc, not the disc's diameter. Double the offset and the rise doubles.
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Topic 3.3 hub
Mechanical systems
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