Designs and calculates disc, linear and cylindrical cams of a follower of translating or swinging arm type. You can calculate and design cam parameters completely and graph results for motion parameters are available. You can choose among many lift motions. You can add your own lift motion (tab delimited text file).

The generators design cams based on the cam properties of maximum lift, acceleration, velocity, or pressure angle.

TipSee the Engineer's Handbook for calculation formulas for designing cams.

Procedures

Design disc cams

Insert disc cams

On the ribbon, click Design tab Power Transmission panel Disc Cam.
On the Design tab:
- On the Cam group box, select the Component option from the pull-down list. Cylindrical Face and Start Plane commands are activated.
- Within the assembly, select the cylindrical face and start plane.
- Enter values of the basic radius and cam width.
- On the Follower group box, enter the values of the follower.
- On the Actual Segment group box, select the actual segment, or select 1 by clicking in the graph area, and then entering graph values.
  NoteClick Add After, Delete, or Add Before to add or remove segments.
- Select the type of motion from the pull-down list. You can add your own motion when you click Plus (Add) and specify name and values of the motion in the Add Motion dialog box. The new motion is added to the list of motions. To remove any motion from the list, click the Minus button (Delete).
(Optional) Click More in the right lower corner of the Design tab to set additional options for cam design.
(Optional) Click the Save to file above the graph area to save graph data to the text file.
(Optional) Click the Results in the upper-right corner of the Design or Calculation tab to open HTML report.
Click OK.

NoteYou can switch to the Calculation tab to perform a calculation and strength check. Calculation is performed when you click Calculate.

Insert a calculation

On the ribbon, click Design tab Power Transmission panel Disc Cam.
On the Design tab:
- On the Cam area, select the No Model option from the pull-down list, and enter values of the basic radius and cam width.
- On the Follower area, enter the values of the follower.
- On the Actual Segment area, select the actual segment, or select 1 by clicking in the graph area, and then entering graph values.
  NoteClick Add After, Delete or Add Before to add or remove segments.
- Select the type of motion using the pull-down list. You can add your own motion when you click Plus (Add) and specify name and values of you motion in the Add Motion dialog box. The new motion is then added to the list of motions. To remove any motion from the list, click Minus (Delete).
(Optional) Click the More in the right lower corner of the Design tab to set additional options for cam design.
Click OK.

NoteYou can switch to the Calculation tab to perform a calculation and strength check. Calculation is performed when you click Calculate.

Calculate disc cams

On the ribbon, click Design tab Power Transmission panel Disc Cam.
On the Design tab:
- On the Cam area, select what type of cam you want to insert (Component, No Model).
- Insert values for cam and follower and cam segments.
Switch to the Calculation tab:
- Enter the calculation values. You can change the values and units directly in the edit fields.
Click Calculate to perform the calculation.
Calculation results are displayed in the Results area. The inputs that fail the calculation are displayed in red (their value does not correspond with other inserted values or calculation criteria). Reports of the calculation are displayed in the Summary of Messages area which is displayed after clicking on the chevron in the right lower part of the Calculation tab.
(Optional) Click the Save to file in the Design tab above the graph area to save graph data to the text file.
(Optional) Click the Results in the upper-right corner to open the HTML report.
If calculation indicates design compliance, click OK.

Edit disc cams

Open the Autodesk Inventor assembly with the already inserted Design Accelerator disc cam.
Select the disc cam, right-click to display the context menu and select the Edit Using Design Accelerator command.
Edit the cam. You can change the type of cam (Component, No Model) or recalculate values. If you changed calculation values, click Calculate to see the strength check and geometric calculation. Calculation results are displayed in the Results area. The inputs that fail the calculation are displayed in red (their value does not correspond with other inserted values or calculation criteria). Reports of the calculation are displayed in the Summary of Messages area which is displayed after clicking on the chevron in the right lower part of the Calculation tab.
Click OK.

Cam Tutorial

Design linear cams

Insert linear cams

On the ribbon, click Design tab Power Transmission panel Linear Cam.
On the Design tab:
- On the Cam group box, select the Component option from the pull-down list, and enter values of the cam width and cam length.
- On the Follower group box, enter the values.
- On the Actual Segment group box, select the actual segment, or select one by clicking in the graph area and entering graph values.
  NoteClick Add After, Delete, or Add Before to add or remove segments.
- Select the type of motion using the pull-down list. You can add your own motion when you click Plus (Add) and specify name and values of motion in the Add Motion dialog box. The motion is added to the list of motions. To remove any motion from the list, click Minus (Delete).
(Optional) Click the More in the right lower corner of the Design tab to set additional options for cam design.
(Optional) Click Save to file above the graph area to save graph data to the text file.
(Optional) Click Results in the upper-right corner of the Design or Calculation tab to open HTML report.
Click OK.

NoteYou can switch to the Calculation tab to perform a calculation and strength check.

Insert a calculation

On the ribbon, click Design tab Power Transmission panel Linear Cam.
On the Design tab:
- On the Cam area, select the No Model option from the pull-down list, and enter values of the cam width and cam length.
- On the Follower area, enter the values of the follower.
- On the Actual Segment area add or remove segments and enter segment values.
- Select the type of motion using the pull-down list. You can add your own motion when you click Plus (Add) and specify name and values of you motion in the Add Motion dialog box. Your motion is then added to the list of motions. To remove/delete any motion from the list, click Minus (Delete).
(Optional) Click More in the right lower corner of the Design tab to open the More Options area, where you can set additional options for cam design.
Click OK.

NoteYou can switch to the Calculation tab to perform a calculation and strength check. Calculation is performed when you click Calculate.

Calculate linear cams

On the ribbon, click Design tab Power Transmission panel Linear Cam.
On the Design tab:
- On the Cam group box, select which type of cam you want to insert (Component, No Model).
- Insert values for cam and follower.
Switch to the Calculation tab:
- Enter the calculation values. You can change the values and units directly in the edit fields.
Click Calculate to perform the calculation.
Calculation results are displayed in the Results area. The inputs that fail the calculation are displayed in red (their value does not correspond with other inserted values or calculation criteria). Reports of the calculation are displayed in the Summary of Messages area which is displayed after clicking on the chevron in the right lower part of the Calculation tab.
(Optional) Click Save to file above the graph area to save graph data to the text file.
(Optional) Click Results in the upper-right corner of the Design or Calculation tab to open HTML report.
If calculation indicates design compliance, click OK.

Edit linear cams

Open the Autodesk Inventor assembly with the already inserted Design Accelerator linear cam.
Select the linear cam, right-click and select the Edit Using Design Accelerator command.
Edit the cam. You can change the type of cam (Component, No Model) or recalculate values. If you changed calculation values, click Calculate to see strength check and geometric calculation. Calculation results are displayed in the Results area. The inputs that fail the calculation are displayed in red (their value does not correspond with other inserted values or calculation criteria). Reports of the calculation are displayed in the Summary of Messages area which is displayed after clicking on the chevron in the right lower part of the Calculation tab.
Click OK.

Cam Tutorial

Design cylindrical cams

Insert cylindrical cams

On the ribbon, click Design tabPower Transmission panelCylindrical Cam.
On the Design tab:
- On the Cam group box, select the Component option from the pull-down list. Cylindrical Face and Start Plane commands are activated. If you select No model option, only calculation is inserted to the assembly. In such case, the Cylindrical Face and Start Plane commands are disabled.
- Within the assembly, select the cylindrical face and start plane to specify the placement of the component. Cylindrical Face and Start Plane commands are enabled by default.
- Enter values of the basic radius and cam width.
- You can click Preview... to display the preview of the cylindrical cam.
- On the Follower group box, enter the values of the roller radius and eccentricity angle. Eccentricity angle represents the angle between follower motion direction and cam axis.
- On the Actual Segment group box, select the actual segment, or select one by clicking in the graph area, and then enter graph values.
  NoteClick Add After, Delete, or Add Before to add or remove segments.
- Select the type of motion from the pull-down list. You can add your own motion when you click Plus (Add) and specify name and values of the motion in the Add Motion dialog box. The new motion is added to the list of motions. To remove any motion from the list, click Minus (Delete).
(Optional) Click More in the right lower corner of the Design tab to set additional options for cam design.
(Optional) Click Save to file above the graph area to save graph data to the text file.
(Optional) Click Results in the upper-right corner of the Design or Calculation tab to open HTML report.
Click OK.

NoteYou can switch to the Calculation tab to perform a calculation and strength check. Calculation is performed when you click Calculate.

Insert a calculation

On the ribbon, click Design tab Power Transmission panel Cylindrical Cam.
On the Design tab:
- On the Cam area, select the No Model option from the pull-down list, and enter values of the basic radius and cam width.
- On the Follower area, enter the values of the follower.
- On the Actual Segment area, select the actual segment, or select 1 by clicking in the graph area, and then entering graph values.
  NoteClick Add After, Delete or Add Before to add or remove segments.
- Select the type of motion using the pull-down list. You can add your own motion when you click Plus (Add) and specify name and values of you motion in the Add Motion dialog box. The new motion is then added to the list of motions. To remove any motion from the list, click Minus (Delete).
(Optional) Click More in the right lower corner of the Design tab to set additional options for cam design.
Click OK.

NoteYou can switch to the Calculation tab to perform a calculation and strength check. Calculation is performed when you click Calculate.

Calculate cylindrical cams

On the ribbon, click Design tabPower Transmission panelCylindrical Cam.
On the Design tab:
- On the Cam area, select what type of cam you want to insert (Component, No Model).
- Insert values for cam and follower and cam segments.
Switch to the Calculation tab:
- Enter the calculation values. You can change the values and units directly in the edit fields.
Click Calculate to perform the calculation.
Calculation results are displayed in the Results area. The inputs that fail the calculation are displayed in red (their value does not correspond with other inserted values or calculation criteria). Reports of the calculation are displayed in the Summary of Messages area which is displayed after clicking on the chevron in the right lower part of the Calculation tab.
(Optional) Click Save to file in the Design tab above the graph area to save graph data to the text file.
(Optional) Click Results in the upper-right corner to open the HTML report.
If calculation indicates design compliance, click OK.

Edit cylindrical cams

Open the Autodesk Inventor assembly with the already inserted Design Accelerator cylindrical cam.
Select the cylindrical cam, right-click to display the context menu and select the Edit Using Design Accelerator command.
Edit the cam. You can change the type of cam (Component, No Model) or recalculate values. If you changed calculation values, click Calculate to see the strength check and geometric calculation. Calculation results are displayed in the Results area. The inputs that fail the calculation are displayed in red (their value does not correspond with other inserted values or calculation criteria). Reports of the calculation are displayed in the Summary of Messages area which is displayed after clicking on the chevron in the right lower part of the Calculation tab.
Click OK.

Cam Tutorial

References

Disc Cam Generator - Design tab

Sets parameters for the design of a disc cam.

Click Calculate to perform the calculation of geometric parameters.

Access:

Ribbon: Design tab

Power Transmission panel

Disc Cam

Cam

Specifies parameters of the cam. Use the pull-down menu to select Component or No Model Option. If you select Component, the Cylindrical Face and Start Plane commands are enabled. If you select No Model, the commands are not available.

Component	Creates a new component.
No Model	Inserts only calculation.
Cylindrical Face	Specifies a cylindrical face or axis.
Start Plane	Specifies the start face or work plane. Click Flip to flip the orientation of start plane.
Preview	Displays the graphical image of the disc cam. NoteDisplayed image depends on the follower type selected in More Options (Translating or Swinging Arm type of follower).

Follower

Specifies parameters of the follower.

Roller Radius	Radius of a roller.
Roller Width	Width of roller (only for cylinder shape).
Eccentricity	Follower eccentricity from the center of cam.
Pivot Distance	Distance of swinging center of rotation from the cam center.
Arm Length	Length of swinging arm.
Reaction Arm	Length of reaction arm.

Actual Segment

Specifies parameters of cam segments.

Actual Segment	Use the pull-down menu to select actual segment.
Motion Function	Use the selection list to select the appropriate motion. Click Plus (Add) to open the Add Motion dialog box where you can specify your own motion, which is added to the list. Other commands are available only when a motion is selected in the list. The Minus (Delete) command deletes current/selected user motion.
Add Before	Adds segment before the currently selected segment.
Delete	Deletes current segment.
Add After	Adds segment after the currently selected segment.

Graphic display of segments area

As you select a button on the toolbar, a corresponding quantity graph displays in this area. To turn off the display of a graph, clear the selection.

If you place the cursor above the graphs area, a tooltip displays with graph values that correspond to units of the actual cursor position.

You can select the cam segment in an index in the combo box in the Actual Segment area, or by click an appropriate position in the graph area.

Zoom switches on/off the zoom to the cam element graphs only.

Save graph data to file saves all graph data and data about the cam profile and follower path to the tab delimited text file. You can open the saved data in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, if desired. Following columns are generated:

Cam position [deg]
Lift [mm]
Speed [mps]
Acceleration [m/s²]
Pulse [m/s³]
Pressure Angle [deg]
Follower Force [N]
Normal Force [N]
Torque [N m]
Radius of Curvature [mm]
Specific Pressure [MPa]
Profile angle [deg] - polar coordinates
Profile radius [mm]
Profile X coordinate [mm] - Cartesian coordinates
Profile Y coordinate [mm]
Follower path angle [deg] - polar coordinates
Follower path radius [mm]
Follower path X coordinate [mm] - Cartesian coordinates
Follower path Y coordinate [mm]

(More)

Displays additional options for cam design.

Number of Split Points

Gives an accurate, detailed cam calculation, export values (the Calculation option), and part accuracy when inserting into Autodesk Inventor (the Model option). The angle between drawn points is specified by number of points on a circle (360 points means a 1 degree angle distance of points).

Calculation	Number of calculated points.
Model	Number of points generated in Autodesk Inventor.
Cam Direction
	Select cam direction of clockwise or counterclockwise.
Path Type
Click to select the path type. The direction of the path type affects calculation and the Autodesk Inventor model.
Inner	Only lower/inner part.
Outer	Only upper/outer part.
Both	Both parts.
Follower Type
Select the type of the follower.
Translating	Designs a follower with translation motion.
Swinging Arm	Designs a follower with arc path of motion.
Follower Shape
Select the shape of the follower.
Cylinder	Designs follower of cylindrical shape.
Sphere	Designs follower of spherical shape.

Results

To display the Results area on the right side of the Calculation and Design tabs, double-click the double line on the right or click the chevron.

The area displays the limiting values of calculated parameters, result of strength check, and cam shape. Values are calculated when the Calculate command is pressed.

Following output parameters are displayed on the Results pane:

NoteFor further description of the calculated parameters, see Engineer's Handbook.

Results
- Max. Lift (h_max)
- Min. Lift (h_min)
- Max. Pressure Angle (g_max)
- Min. Pressure Angle (g_min)
- Max. Speed (v_max)
- Max. Acceleration (a_max)
- Min. Acceleration (a_min)
Segment
- Motion Start Position (l₀)
- Lift at Start (h₀)
- Max. Acceleration (a_max)
- Min. Acceleration (a_min)
- Max. Pulse (j_max)
- Min. Pulse (j_min)
- Max. Follower Force (F_max)
- Min. Follower Force (F_min)
- Max. Normal Force (Fn_max)
- Min. Normal Force (Fn_min)
- Max. Torque (T_max)
- Min. Curvature Radius (+) (Rc_min)
- Min. Curvature Radius (-) (Rc_min2)
- Max. Specific Pressure (p_max)

Summary of Messages

Displays the reports about calculation. To open the Summary of Messages area at the bottom of the Calculation and Design tabs, double-click the double line at the bottom of tabs or click the chevron at the bottom of the tabs.

Toolbar Commands

Linear Cam Generator - Design tab

Sets parameters for design of a linear cam.

Click Calculate to perform the calculation of geometric parameters.

Access:

Ribbon: Design tab

Power Transmission panel

Linear Cam

Cam

General specification of the cam. Use the pull-down menu to select Component or No Model Option.

Component	Creates new component.
No Model	Inserts calculation only.
Start Plane	Select the planar face or work plane as a starting reference. Click Flip to flip the orientation of a start plane.
Motion Length	Represents the length of the motion along X axis. You define the follower motion not the cam profile. Linear Cam generator computes cam profile as an offset curve.
Preview	Displays the graphical image of the linear cam. NoteDisplayed image depends on the follower type selected in More Options (Translating or Swinging Arm type of follower).

Follower

General specification of the follower.

Roller Radius	Radius of a roller.
Roller Width	Width of roller (only for cylinder shape).
Eccentricity Angle	Angle between follower and Y axis.
Pivot Distance	Distance in Y axis of swinging center of rotation from the roller start position.
Arm Length	Length of swinging arm.
Reaction Arm	Length of reaction arm.

Actual Segment

Specify parameters of cam segments.

Actual Segment	Use the pull-down menu to select actual segment.
Motion Function	Select a motion. Click Plus (Add) to open the Add Motion dialog box where you can specify your own motion to add to the list. Other commands are available only if the user-defined motion is selected in list. The Minus (Delete) command deletes selected user motion.
Add Before	Adds segment before currently selected segment.
Delete	Deletes current segment.
Add After	Adds segment after currently selected segment.

Graphical display of segments are

When you click a quantity graph in the toolbar, it displays in this area. Click the quantity graph again to turn off the display.

If you place the cursor above the graphs area, the tooltip with graphs values with corresponding units of the actual cursor position displays.

The cam segment can be selected by index in the box in Actual Segment group box or by clicking the appropriate position in graph area.

Zoom switches on/off the zoom to the cam element graphs only.

Cam position [mm]
Lift [mm]
Speed [mps]
Acceleration [m/s²]
Pulse [m/s³]
Pressure Angle [deg]
Follower Force [N]
Normal Force [N]
Radius of Curvature [mm]
Specific Pressure [MPa]
Profile X coordinate [mm] - Cartesian coordinates
Profile Y coordinate [mm]
Follower path X coordinate [mm] - Cartesian coordinates
Follower path Y coordinate [mm]

(More)

Displays additional options for cam design.

Number of Split Points
Gives an accurate, detailed cam calculation, export values (the Calculation option), and part accuracy when inserting into Autodesk Inventor (the Model option). The angle between drawn points is specified by number of points on a circle (360 points means a 1 degree angle distance of points).
Calculation	Number of calculated points.
Model	Number of points generated in Autodesk Inventor.
Cam Direction
	You can change cam direction to the left motion.
	You can change cam direction to the right motion.
Path Type
Click to select the path type. The direction of the path type affects calculation and the Autodesk Inventor model.
Lower	Only lower/inner part.
Upper	Only upper/outer part.
Both	Both parts.
Follower Type
Select the type of the follower.
Translating	Designs a follower with translation motion.
Swinging Arm	Designs a follower with arc path of motion.
Follower Shape
Select the shape of the follower.
Cylinder	Designs follower of cylindrical shape.
Sphere	Designs follower of spherical shape.

Results

To display the Results area on the right side of the Calculation and Design tabs, double-click the double line on the right or click the chevron.

The area displays the limiting values of calculated parameters, result of strength check, and cam shape. Values are calculated when the Calculate command is pressed.

Following output parameters are displayed in the Results pane:

NoteFor further description of the calculated parameters, see Engineer's Handbook.

Results
- Max. Lift (h_max)
- Min. Lift (h_min)
- Max. Pressure Angle (g_max)
- Min. Pressure Angle (g_min)
- Max. Speed (v_max)
- Max. Acceleration (a_max)
- Min. Acceleration (a_min)
Segment
- Motion Start Position (l₀)
- Lift at Start (h₀)
- Max. Acceleration (a_max)
- Min. Acceleration (a_min)
- Max. Pulse (j_max)
- Min. Pulse (j_min)
- Max. Follower Force (F_max)
- Min. Follower Force (F_min)
- Max. Normal Force (Fn_max)
- Min. Normal Force (Fn_min)
- Max. Torque (T_max)
- Min. Curvature Radius (+) (Rc_min)
- Min. Curvature Radius (-) (Rc_min2)
- Max. Specific Pressure (p_max)

Summary of Messages

Toolbar Commands

Cylindrical Cam Generator - Design tab

Sets parameters for the design of a cylindrical cam.

Click Calculate to perform the calculation of geometric parameters.

Access:

Ribbon: Design tab

Power Transmission panel

Cylindrical Cam

Cam

General specification of the cam. Use the pull-down menu to select Component or No Model Option. If you select the Component option, the Cylindrical Face and Start plane commands are enabled. The commands are not available if No Model option is selected.

Component	Creates new component. When you select this option, the Cylindrical Face and Start plane commands are enabled, and you can specify the placement of the cylindrical cam.
No Model	Inserts only calculation.
Cylindrical Face	Select the cylindrical face or axis.
Start Plane	Select the start face or work plane. Click Flip to flip the orientation of start plane.
Preview	Displays the graphical image of the cylindrical cam.

Follower

General specification of the follower.

Roller Radius	Radius of a roller.
Eccentr. Angle	Angle between follower motion direction and cam axis.

Actual Segment

Specify parameters of cam segments.

Actual Segment	Use the pull-down menu to select actual segment.
Motion Function	Use the selection list to select the appropriate motion. Click Plus (Add) to open the Add Motion dialog box where you can specify your own motion which is added to the list. Other commands are available only when a motion is selected in the list. The Minus (Delete) command deletes current/selected user motion.
Add Before	Adds segment before currently selected segment.
Delete	Deletes current segment.
Add After	Adds segment after currently selected segment.

Graphical display of segments area

When you click a quantity graph in the toolbar, it displays in this area. Click the quantity graph again to turn off the display.

If you place the cursor above the graphs area, the tooltip with graphs values with corresponding units of the actual cursor position displays.

The cam segment can be selected by index in combo box in Actual Segment area or by clicking on appropriate position in graph area.

Zoom switches on/off the zoom to the cam element graphs only.

Cam position [deg]
Lift [mm]
Speed [mps]
Acceleration [m/s²]
Pulse [m/s³]
Pressure Angle [deg]
Follower Force [N]
Normal Force [N]
Torque [N m]
Radius of Curvature [mm]
Specific Pressure [MPa]
Profile angle [deg]
Profile height [mm]
Profile X coordinate [mm] - 3D Cartesian coordinates
Profile Y coordinate [mm]
Profile Z coordinate [mm]
Follower path angle [deg] - pseudo polar coordinates
Follower path height [mm]
Follower path X coordinate [mm] - 3D Cartesian coordinates
Follower path Y coordinate [mm]
Follower path Z coordinate [mm]

(More)

Displays additional options for cam design.

Number of Split Points

Calculation	Number of calculated points.
Model	Number of points generated in Autodesk Inventor.
Cam Direction
	Select cam direction of clockwise or counterclockwise.
Path Type
Click to select the path type. The direction of the path type affects calculation and the Autodesk Inventor model.
Inner	Only lower/inner part.
Outer	Only upper/outer part.
Both	Both parts.
Follower Shape
Select the shape of the follower.
Cylinder	Designs follower of cylindrical shape.
Sphere	Designs follower of spherical shape.

Results

To display the Results area on the right side of the Calculation and Design tabs, double-click the double line on the right or click the chevron.

The area displays the limiting values of calculated parameters, result of strength check, and cam shape. Values are calculated when the Calculate command is pressed.

Following output parameters are displayed on the Results pane:

NoteFor further description of the calculated parameters, see Engineer's Handbook.

Results
- Max. Lift (h_max)
- Min. Lift (h_min)
- Max. Pressure Angle (g_max)
- Min. Pressure Angle (g_min)
- Max. Speed (v_max)
- Max. Acceleration (a_max)
- Min. Acceleration (a_min)
Segment
- Motion Start Position (l₀)
- Lift at Start (h₀)
- Max. Acceleration (a_max)
- Min. Acceleration (a_min)
- Max. Pulse (j_max)
- Min. Pulse (j_min)
- Max. Follower Force (F_max)
- Min. Follower Force (F_min)
- Max. Normal Force (Fn_max)
- Min. Normal Force (Fn_min)
- Max. Torque (T_max)
- Min. Curvature Radius (+) (Rc_min)
- Min. Curvature Radius (-) (Rc_min2)
- Max. Specific Pressure (p_max)

Summary of Messages

Toolbar Commands

Cam Generators - Calculation tab

Sets parameters for calculation of a disc, linear, and cylindrical cams.

Click Calculate to perform the strength check.

Access:

Ribbon: Design tab

Power Transmission panel

Linear Cam, Disc Cam, or Cylindrical Cam. In the Cam Component Generator dialog box, and click the Calculation tab.

This tab extends the Design tab. You can calculate generator data based on selections in the Design tab. Calculation tab is the same for both cam calculators.

Cycle Data

Enter either the Cycle Time or the Speed or the Velocity for cams.

Follower Loads

Enter Force on Roller, Accelerated Weight and Spring Rating. The cam is loaded with the follower roller.

Cam Material

NoteMaterial database is not connected to Autodesk Inventor Material Styles Library.

Warning: Strength parameters of material are determined empirically and reflect minimum values applicable for a group of materials. Although these obtained values are close to the values obtained using measurement of particular materials, it is recommended in cases of final calculations to use parameters of material according to the material sheet or specifications of the producer.

On the material edit field, specify your own material values or select a material from Material Database.

If a material is selected from Material Database, values into the following edit fields are inserted automatically according to the values from Material Database and edits fields are locked. To unlock the field clear the box.

Follower Material

NoteMaterial database is not connected to Autodesk Inventor Material Styles Library.

On the material edit field, specify your own material values or select a material from Material Database.

Results

To display the Results area on the right side of the Calculation and Design tabs, double-click the double line on the right or click the chevron.

The area displays the limiting values of calculated parameters, result of strength check, and cam shape. Values are calculated when the Calculate command is pressed.

Following output parameters are displayed in the Results pane:

NoteFor further description of the calculated parameters, see Engineer's Handbook.

Results
- Max. Lift (h_max)
- Max. Speed (v_max)
- Min. Speed (v_min)
- Max. Acceleration (a_max)
- Min. Acceleration (a_min)
- Max. Pulse (j_max)
- Min. Pulse (j_min)
- Max. Pressure Angle (g_max)
- Min. Pressure Angle (g_min)
- Max. Follower Force (F_max)
- Min. Follower Force (F_min)
- Max. Normal Force (Fn_max)
- Min. Normal Force (Fn_min)
- Max. Torque (T_max)
- Min. Curvature Radius (+) (Rc_min)
- Min. Curvature Radius (-) (Rc_min2)
- Max. Specific Pressure (p_max)

Summary of Messages

Toolbar Commands

Add Motion

You can define your own motion. You must specify the motion name and the file name.

Access:

Ribbon: Design tab Power Transmission panel Linear Cam, Disc Cam, or Cylindrical Cam. On the Design tab click Add next to the Motion Function pull-down list.

Motion Name	Specify a user motion name to display on the Motion list.
File Name	Specify a file name with path of file with motion data.

File Format

The Motion file is a text file that contains 2 columns of values delimited by tabs or characters ";" or "|".

The first column represents the position in segment. The first value must be zero (start of segment). The last value must be 1, or all values are transformed by 1/last value in the table. For example, if the last value in the table is 30, generator recalculates value 1/30. The values must be listed ascendingly.

The second column represents an elevation at position. The first value must be zero. The last value must be 1, or all elevation values are transformed by 1/last value in the table. The values must be listed ascendingly.

Example of the values of the Polynomial motion of third degree. You can copy the values from the table directly to the TXT file.

0;0

0.1;0.028

0.2;0.104

0.3;0.216

0.4;0.352

0.5;0.5

0.6;0.648

0.7;0.784

0.8;0.896

0.9;0.972

1;1

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Cam Component Generators

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