Cam (or Cam-Part) :

The Part you select to do Add 2D-Cam, which generates the shape of the Cam-Profile.

Cam-Shaft :

The most common Cam-Part. It is a rotating-Part (a shaft), to which you do Add 2D-Cam (or Add 3D-Cam). A Cam-Shaft usually rotates one time in a machine-cycle and at a constant angular-velocity.

Cam-Profile :

The Cam-Flank of a 2D-Cam that is in continuous contact with the Follower-Profile.

Cam-Flank or Flank :

The cam's surface (Cam-Profile) that interacts with one or more Follower-Profiles. For each Follower-Roller, we can calculate the Inner-Flank and/or Outer-Flank.

Conjugate Cam :

Two Follower-Rollers on one Follower-Part and engage with two Cam-Profiles on a Cam-Part. The design makes it impossible for the Follower-Rollers to lift away from the Cam-Profiles.

Track-Cam or Groove-Cam :

A Conjugate-Cam in which a groove with an Outer-Flank and an Inner-Flank is cut into a Cam-Blank. A Follower-Roller fits in the groove.

Follower (or Follower-Part) :

The Part that supports the Follower-Profile.

Follower Kinematic-Chain

(or Kinematic Mechanism) :

The Follower-Part and the other Parts that you join to the Follower-Part, to move the Tooling or Tool-Part.

Follower-Profile :

The surface of the component that you rigidly connect to the Follower-Part. The surface of the Follower-Profile is in continuous contact with the Cam-Profile.

Follower-Roller :

A Follower-Profile that is cylindrical or barrel-shaped that is rigidly connected to the Follower-Part.

Flat-faced Follower : 

A Follower-Profile that is a flat surface that is rigidly connected to the Follower-Part.

Translating Follower :

A Follower-Part that that moves along a straight axis. Also called a Translating-Follower.

Rotating Follower :

A Follower-Part that rotates about a fixed axis. Also called an Oscillating-Follower, or Swinging-Arm Follower.

Reciprocating Motion :

A sliding-Part with a non-progressive motion.

Oscillating Motion :

A rotating-Part with a non-progressive motion.

Progressive Motion :

A motion, usually followed by a Dwell, that moves the Follower-Part progressively in one direction.

Non-Progressive Motion :

A motion that returns the Follower-Part to its original position after each machine cycle.

Indexing :

A progressive motion, usually rotating.

Indexer :

A device whose input is a constant-speed (usually) Cam-Shaft and output is a rotating-Part with a progressive motion. The input rotates one time to index the output one, two, or three times. The index-angle is such that 360º/(Index-Angle) is an integer.

Cam-Blank :

The material from which you cut the shape of the Cam-Profile.