Category:Cams

The Cams and Followers are devices which can convert rotary motion into linear motion (movement in a straight line) or activate a linkage. A cam is a specially shaped piece of material, usually metal or hard wearing plastic, which is fixed to rotating shaft.

The cam can be made in various recognisable shapes (e.g. circular, elliptical, heart-shaped) or can have a shape, or ‘profile’, specifically designed and shaped to produce a particular output motion. A follower is a mechanism which is designed to move up and down as it follows the edge of the cam.

Many machines which have moving parts use cams. A good example is the motor car engine which has cams to open and close valves and contact breaker points and operate fuel pumps.