This document provides instructions for designing a cam to produce a specified motion profile. The student is asked to:
1) Replicate a motion graph and draw a corresponding cam profile graph.
2) Sketch the cam profile based on the graphs.
3) Calculate the follower length and sketch a multi-view drawing.
4) Create a physical model and test it, comparing the results to the desired motion.
5) Evaluate the design and identify areas for improvement.
This document provides instructions for designing a cam to produce a specified motion profile. The student is asked to:
1) Replicate a motion graph and draw a corresponding cam profile graph.
2) Sketch the cam profile based on the graphs.
3) Calculate the follower length and sketch a multi-view drawing.
4) Create a physical model and test it, comparing the results to the desired motion.
5) Evaluate the design and identify areas for improvement.
This document provides instructions for designing a cam to produce a specified motion profile. The student is asked to:
1) Replicate a motion graph and draw a corresponding cam profile graph.
2) Sketch the cam profile based on the graphs.
3) Calculate the follower length and sketch a multi-view drawing.
4) Create a physical model and test it, comparing the results to the desired motion.
5) Evaluate the design and identify areas for improvement.
This document provides instructions for designing a cam to produce a specified motion profile. The student is asked to:
1) Replicate a motion graph and draw a corresponding cam profile graph.
2) Sketch the cam profile based on the graphs.
3) Calculate the follower length and sketch a multi-view drawing.
4) Create a physical model and test it, comparing the results to the desired motion.
5) Evaluate the design and identify areas for improvement.
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Name: Karen Yang
PLTW ENGINEERING Activity 4.5 Design a Cam INTRODUCTION
Often engineers must design a mechanism to replicate a specific motion. In this project, you will design a cam to provide a specified motion. You will then create a physical model and test your design to compare the results against the desired outcome.
EQUIPMENT
● Foam board, balsa or bass wood, corrugated plastic, 3D printer, or other prototyping material
● Manufactured box
● 3/16"-diameter dowel
● 3/16"-square dowel
RESOURCES
● Polar Graph Paper
PROCEDURE
Watch the Design a Cam Tutorial video to learn how to use a motion graph to design a cam.
Design a Cam Tutorial
Study the cam assembly shown below.
The motion graph represents the vertical follower motion created by a cam in an assembly similar to this assembly. Note that the cam shown is for illustration only and will not produce the motion displayed in the motion graph.
1. Assume that the minimum radial dimension of the cam is 1/2 inch. Replicate the motion graph of the position of the top of the follower above the box. Then draw a motion graph (on the same grid) to represent the radial dimension of the cam. This will require you to translate the follower motion graph down, such that the radial dimension at an angle of rotation of 0 degrees is 1/2 inch. Label your function “radial dimension of cam”. 2. On a polar grid, sketch the profile of a cam that will create the vertical follower motion represented by the motion graph in the cam assembly. Note that your cam will have a different profile than the cam illustrated above.
The measurement of the top of the follower is the same as the measurement of the radial dimension of the follower since the hexagon cam is symmetrical.
3. Calculate the length of follower needed to produce the motion graph shown in item 1, using the box manufactured in Project 3.9 Manufacture a Box. Show your work.
4.63 inches
4. Sketch a multi-view drawing of your follower design.
5. Create a physical model of your cam and follower.
6. Test your cam assembly. Record your test data in a table and represent the test results using a motion graph.
7. Evaluate your solution with respect to each of the following. Explain each assessment.
● Does the cam and follower design provide a smooth follower motion when the cam is rotated?
No because the hexagon has 6 sides the the follower bumps on.
● Is the cam/axle connection sufficient to ensure that the cam rotates with the axle without slippage?
There is a glitch in inventor that makes the cam slip of the follower, as it happened to three other people with different cams. However, without the glitch, the cam is sufficient enough to ensure rotation without slippage.
● Does the motion of the follower replicate the motion represented by the top of follower motion?
Yes, it creates a zig zag pattern due to the shape of the cam. CONCLUSION
1. What real phenomenon might produce a motion that could be replicated by a cam of the shape you produced? Explain.
A heart monitor produces a similar motion as the hexagon cam because they both create a zig zag pattern.
2. How would you improve your cam assembly design?
I would make the cam thicker because I misread the thickness of the cam. If i made the cam thicker, then the follower would not glitch and would stay in contact with the cam.
3. Based on your experience with this cam assembly, what considerations might be important in the selection of a linear motion and the resulting cam design that could affect the design of your automaton?
The cam’s shape and placement affects the motion. For example, an offset cam causes a rotation, and a smooth cam, such as the pear cam, causes smooth translation while a cam with several sides, such as the hexagon cam, causes bumpy translation.
4. You have developed several types of models to represent cam designs—graphical models, computer models, and physical models. Evaluate the merits and limitations of each type of model in the process of designing a cam as part of a system (for instance an automaton) to cause a desired linear motion.
Graphical models helps depict the motion of the automaton, but they do not show the actual automaton. Computer models and physical models show the automaton as well as its motion. Computer models aid in designing the prototype for the finalized physical model.
