Plate Cam -- find the pressure angle and follower displacement

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SUMMARY

The discussion details the calculation of pressure angle (δ) and follower displacement (s) for a plate cam mechanism using variables such as base circle radius (R_b), roller radius (R_f), offset (e), and displacement slope (ds/dθ). At the home position (θ=0), the pressure angle is derived as δ = -tan⁻¹(e / (R_f + R_b)) with zero follower displacement. After a 30° cam rotation, the pressure angle is computed by δ = tan⁻¹[(m (R_f + R_b + ΔR)) / (e² + (R_f + R_b + ΔR)² - e m)] - tan⁻¹[e / (R_f + R_b + ΔR)], where m is the slope of the displacement diagram at 30°. The formulas use precise trigonometric relationships to relate cam geometry and follower motion.

PREREQUISITES

  • Cam profile geometry and kinematics
  • Trigonometric functions and inverse tangent calculations
  • Understanding of displacement diagrams and their slopes (ds/dθ)
  • Plate cam mechanism terminology including base circle radius, roller radius, and offset

NEXT STEPS

  • Study advanced cam profile design techniques for pressure angle optimization
  • Analyze displacement diagrams using numerical differentiation methods
  • Explore software tools for cam mechanism simulation such as MATLAB or SolidWorks Motion
  • Investigate the impact of pressure angle on follower force and wear in cam-follower systems

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Mechanical engineers, machine designers, and students focused on cam-follower mechanisms, kinematic analysis, and precision motion control in mechanical systems.

jojosg
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Homework Statement
A plate cam shown below rotates counterclockwise. Find the following. (1) The pressure angle and follower displacement for the present position of the cam and follower, and
(2)The pressure angle and follower displacement when cam rotates by 30 degree.
Am I doing this correctly?

Given variables:

##R_b## = base circle radius
##R_f## = roller radius
##e## = offset (positive as shown in figure)
##\Delta R## = follower displacement from home position
##\frac{\nu}{\omega_{\rm{cam}}} = \frac{ds}{d\theta}## = slope of displacement diagram (length/rad)

(1) Present position (##\theta = 0##, home)

At home: ##\Delta R = 0##, ##\frac{ds}{d\theta} = 0##.

$$
\alpha = \tan^{-1} \left[ \frac{0 \cdot (R_f + R_b + 0)}{e^2 + (R_f + R_b)^2 - e \cdot 0} \right] = \tan^{-1}(0) = 0
$$

$$
\delta = \alpha \;-\; \tan^{-1}\left( \frac{e}{R_f + R_b + \Delta R} \right)
= 0 \;-\; \tan^{-1}\left( \frac{e}{R_f + R_b} \right)
$$

Follower displacement: ##s = 0##

Pressure angle: ##\displaystyle \delta = -\tan^{-1}\left( \frac{e}{R_f + R_b} \right)##

---

(2) After ##30^\circ## cam rotation (CCW)

Let ##\Delta R## = follower rise at ##30^\circ## (from displacement diagram)
Let ##m = \frac{ds}{d\theta}## = slope of displacement diagram at ##30^\circ## (length/rad)

$$
\alpha = \tan^{-1} \left[ \frac{m \left( R_f + R_b + \Delta R \right)}{e^2 + \left( R_f + R_b + \Delta R \right)^2 - e \, m} \right]
$$

$$
\delta = \alpha \;-\; \tan^{-1}\left( \frac{e}{R_f + R_b + \Delta R} \right)
$$

Follower displacement: ##s = \Delta R##

Pressure angle:
$$
\delta = \tan^{-1} \left[ \frac{m (R_f + R_b + \Delta R)}{e^2 + (R_f + R_b + \Delta R)^2 - e m} \right] - \tan^{-1}\left( \frac{e}{R_f + R_b + \Delta R} \right)
$$

qus.webp
 
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