Preamble:

A 3D-Cam has four(4) surfaces. The four(4) surfaces are the:

•2 × Working Surfaces: that are in contact with the cylindrical sides of the Follower-Roller. They are also called the Cam-Flanks.

•Root Surface: the floor of the 3D-Cam

•Top Surface: you do not need this surface in the actual cam. We add this surface to create a Solid feature in SolidWorks, which we cut from the Cam-Blank.

Rims and Points:

•Rims: are imaginary parallel lines along the length of each surface.

You control the number of Rims in the Cam Mesh Density separator - see below.

•Points: are along the length of each Rim. We distribute Points equally along each Rim.

You control the number of Points along each Rim in the Cam Mesh Density separator - see below.

Parameters:

# Points per Rim : The number of Points  : are placed along the length of each Rim. We distribute Points equally along each Rim. along each Rim  : are imaginary lines along the length of each surface. We distribute Rims equally across each surface so that are parallel with each other. - see Notes.

# Rims per Cam-Flank : The number of Rims across the working surfaces of the 3D-Cam  - see Notes.

# Rims per Top / Root : The number of Rims across the Root and Top surfaces - see Notes.

# Hoops (for CAD) : Hoops wrap around the 3D-Cam. They connect each Rims at the same Point #. We use Hoops to help SolidWorks model the surfaces.

Note 1

Note 2

Preamble:

These parameters are for Tapered Follower-Rollers.

[ Linear Velocity () = Radius( ) × Angular Velocity () ]

Cam Flank Velocity: different points on the cam-flank surface are at different radii from the cam's rotational axis.

Therefore, a point that is at a large radius from the Cam's rotational-axis has a greater velocity than a point that is at a small radius.

Cylindrical Follower-Roller Velocity: all points on the surface of a cylindrical follower bearing are at equal radii from its rotational-axis. Therefore, the tangential velocities of all points on the surface of a cylindrical roller are identical.

The velocity of the cam's surface and the follower's surface can only be equal to each other at one radius from the center of the Cam. The follower-roller must be skidding at all other points!

Tapered Follower Velocity: the surface velocity of a tapered-roller increases as its radius increases. If its apex is coincident with the rotational-axis of the cam, it can have a surface speed that is equal to the surface speed of the cam. Thus, it can roll on the cam surface as the cam rotates. This is possible during the dwell periods.

Nevertheless, cylindrical or barrel rollers are usually used as they are readily available, cheap, and they can withstand high loads.

The Roller Diameter of a Tapered Roller?

First, review the Extrusion-Offset and Extrusion-Depth parameters that define the Profile Extrusion of the Follower-Roller.

Use the Extrusion dialog to make the Extrusion-Depth parameter equal to the actual Width (or Length) of the Follower-Roller (frequently, the 'B' parameter in bearing catalogs).

Extrusion dialog: (Note: Part-Offset parameter = 0 mm).

Extrusion-Offset (mm): Position (Z-axis) to the Primary-Contour from the Mechanism-Plane.

Extrusion-Depth (mm): = Dimension between the Primary and Secondary -Contours. Positive value ONLY

Taper-Angle of the Follower-Roller.

Taper-Angle (degrees) rotate the Flanks of the 3D-Cam. The taper angle rotates about the Secondary-Contour.

This is not as convenient as the Primary-Contour, for which we apologize.

With reference to the image to the left, you can see that a Negative Taper Angle decreases the diameter of the Roller in the +Z-axis direction.

Whereas, a Positive Taper Angle, increases the diameter of the Roller in the +Z-axis direction.

Z Offset for Debug - ignore.

The Taper-Angle parameter rotates and pivots on the Mechanism-Plane.

Recommendation , if you want to use the Taper-Roller parameter:

STEP 1

Use these parameters to edit the Extrusion element that represents the Follower-Roller

Extrusion-Depth(mm) = Roller Width(mm) ...  equal to dimension C in SKF catalog (see image above).

Extrusion-Offset = –1 × Extrusion-Depth ... equal to negative of dimension C in SKF catalog.

Now, the Secondary Profile is on the Mechanism-Plane.

STEP 2:

Use the  Roller Clearances  separator (see below ) to increase the Root-Clearance. You need to add clearance between actual Follower-Roller and the floor surface of the 3D-Cam.

Preamble:

There must be a clearance to fit a Follower-Roller between the Cam-Flanks.

Also, you must make sure the Follower-Roller does not touch the Root/Floor of the Cam-Blank.

Thus, Clearances are practical considerations.

Radial-Clearance (mm)

Important: Total Clearance = 2 × Radial Clearance.

A positive Radial Clearance moves the cam-flanks out, from the Follower-Roller.

A negative Radial Clearance moves the cam-flanks in, towards the Follower-Roller.

Root-Clearance (see also Note)

A positive value moves the Root-Face towards the center of the Cam -see Note.

Add Root-Clearance to make sure the Follower-Roller does not touch the actual Root (the floor) of the cam-groove/track.

Top-Clearance (see also Note)

A positive value moves the Top-Face away from the center of the Cam - see Note.

Add Top-Clearance to make sure the top-face of the model is outside the Cam-Blank

Note:

The Top-Face may be the Root-Face of the Cam - vice-versa!

To find which is which, Experiment! Enter a value for the Root-Clearance and click the Rebuild button. Observer in the model which face moves.

Preamble:

Flank Length parameters apply to Indexing Cams.

When you add a 3D-Cam, we calculate for you the cam over a complete machine-cycle, 0 – 360. However, Follower-Rollers of indexing cams are not in contact with the cam for a complete machine-cycle, 0 – 360. The Follower-Rollers progressively engage, then disengage with the cam, in a similar way to gear teeth.

You can use the parameters in the Flank-Length separator to calculate the cam for the period in which the Follower-Roller is engaged with the cam.

Flank-Length:

Start-Angle

End-Angle

These angles are with respect to the Master-Machine-Angle.

When you edit the Start-Angle and End Angle, we re-calculate for you the Cam from the Start-Angle to the End-Angle.

The number-of-points along the cam do not change. Therefore, the points along each rim are nearer to each other.

Preamble:

After you export a 3D-Cam to SolidWorks, copy the path and file-name of the SolidWorks document into this dialog. Then, later, you can use this dialog to open the CAD model of the 3D-Cam again.

Get Cad Part Path button

If the SOLIDWORKS document has a SLDPRT name, click the button to copy the path and name into the Path of SLDPRT (Cam) box.

Open Cam Part button

In the future, click the button to open in SOLIDWORKS the SOLIDWORKS document that is in the Path of SLDPRT ( Cam ) box.

Preamble:

We recommend you use the Save button to save the 3D-Cam as a STEP file - see Rebuild and Save buttons.

Then, you can import the STEP file into SolidWorks or any other 3D-CAD.

Alternatively, you can use these buttons to transfer the Cam-Blank, and the 3D-Cam to SOLIDWORKS.

Before you click these buttons:

1.Open SolidWorks

2.Start and save a new SOLIDWORKS part document (.SLDPRT) and make sure it is the active document.

Transfer Cam Blank button

•We export for you the sketch of the Cam-Blank and its Axis-of-Rotation to SolidWorks.

•We instruct SolidWorks to use the Cam-Blank and Axis-of-Rotation to add a revolved feature.

Transfer 3D-Cam button

•We export for you the points along each Rim and Hoop

•We instruct SolidWorks to:

ouse the points along the Rims to create an XYZ Curve features

ocreate surfaces from the Curve features for each Cam-Flank, and the Top, and the Bottom faces.

oKnit the four surfaces together with the Knit surface feature.

Cut 3D-Cam into Cam-Blank button

•We instruct SolidWorks to:

oCut the Knit the surfaces feature from the Cam Blank revolved feature.

oHide the Knit-surfaces feature.

You may need to edit the Surface Cut feature to reverse the direction of the cut