Cam Design

[Tuck]

I am searching for information regarding the design of Cams in mechanical equipment. Specifically, the transfer of forces, torsion requirements ect. The cam I am to design is rotary style similar to what is used for the crank shaft of an automobile. As the cam rotates inside the lobe it will transfer forces and cause linear translation of the body.

 

[Hush]

Shigley's
Mechanical Engineering Design
McGraw-Hill

 

[RichLeimbach]

I agree with Hush, this is an excellent book. Also, you might try any Machinery's Handbook. They have an excellent section on cam design.

 

[jackboot]

IF YOU ARE A SOLID MODELING PERSON - YOU MIGHT TRY THE MECHSOFT ADD-IN FOR SOLIDWORKS.

I HAVE NEVER USED IT BUT I HAVE USED THE GEAR DESIGN SECTION OF THE PROGRAM. THE FORMULAS ARE RUN AS YOU MODIFIY THE DESIGN ALLOWING YOU CHECK THE PART.

I FIND THIS HELPFUL TO FIND A STARTING POINT BEFORE CRACKING THE BOOKS AND BURNING ERASERS.

JACKBOOT

 

[John2002]

Hi Tuck,

I would recommend you try the book "CAMS FOR INDUSTRY" by John Reeve 1995. I have found this book to be very helpful. The book comes with useful software for designing mechanical cams of all types, and you can export a drawing of the cam in DXF format and import it into your CAD drafting program.

The book is published by Mechanical Engineering Publications Limited, London. I think you can also buy this book at

http://www.amazon.com

or get a copy at your library through interlibrary loan.

Professor Robert Norton has also written a book called "CAM DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING HANDBOOK" which is a good modern book on the design of mechanical cams. Professor Norton also sells a cam design software package called Dynacam. The website link is

http://www.designofmachinery.com/CDH/

A great book that is available through interlibrary loan (but non longer in print) is "CAMS: DESIGN, DYNAMICS, AND ACCURACY" by Harold A. Rothbart.

There is a software program for solidworks called "Camtrax" that can design all types of cams. The website link is

http://www.camnetics.com/CamTrax.htm

Another program is "Cam designer" by Delta Engineering. The webpage link is

http://www.delta-eng.com/

There are also some add on packages for AutoCAD out there for designing cams and you can also do it with Mechanical desktop 6.

I would check out the book CAMS FOR INDUSTRY by John Reeve first. The book and included software are cheaper than the other software suggestions and the software is easy and quick to use. I have actually found the software with this book more helpful, quick and versatile than some of the more complex and expensive software that is available for the design of mechanical cams.

I hope this helps out.

John