Cams The basic principle of the cam is to turn a circular motion into a linear one. This is referred to as reciprocating movement. The cam-follower is connected to, and part off, a shaft known as the Push-Rod. They are found in many machines and toys. Concentric Cams An concentric cam is a disc with its centre of rotation positioned 'off centre'. As it rotates it pushes the flat follower upwards and then allows it to drop downwards. A mechanical toy based on a series of concentric cams is seen below. More Examples Below is a mechanical toy based on a CAM mechanism. Designing Cams In order to design a cam you need to know what you want it to do. The cam-follower has lifted by this amount. Calculating Lift It is very easy to calculate the amount of lift by simply taking the measurement from the center of the drive shaft to the lowest point of the cam and subtracting this from the measurement to the highest point. The concentric cam, is a circle with an offset center. Cam-follower Plate
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