Design of Cam Mechanisms with a Translating Follower Having Symmetrical Rollers

The pressure angle is one of the primary considerations in designing a cam mechanism since an inappropriate angle may cause excessive sliding loads on the follower. This paper presents a simple yet straightforward method for the design and analysis of a cam mechanism with a translating follower having double rollers. In the proposed approach, conjugate surface theory is employed to derive a kinematic model of the cam mechanism. Analytical expressions for the pressure angle is then derived. The validity of the analytical expressions is confirmed by machining a designed cam using a 3-axis CNC machine tool