Difference between revisions of "Cam"
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[[Image:Nockenwelle ani.gif|thumb|200px|Animation showing rotating cams and cam followers producing reciprocating motion.]] | [[Image:Nockenwelle ani.gif|thumb|200px|Animation showing rotating cams and cam followers producing reciprocating motion.]] | ||
A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice-versa. It is often a part of a rotating wheel (e.g. an eccentric wheel) or shaft (e.g. a [[cylinder]] with an irregular shape) that strikes a lever at one or more points on its circular path. The cam can be a simple tooth, as is used to deliver pulses of power to a steam hammer, for example, or an [[eccentric]] disc or other shape that produces a smooth reciprocating (back and forth) motion in the follower, which is a lever making contact with the cam. | A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice-versa. It is often a part of a rotating wheel (e.g. an [[eccentric]] wheel) or shaft (e.g. a [[cylinder]] with an irregular shape) that strikes a lever at one or more points on its circular path. The cam can be a simple tooth, as is used to deliver pulses of power to a steam hammer, for example, or an [[eccentric]] disc or other shape that produces a smooth reciprocating (back and forth) motion in the follower, which is a lever making contact with the cam. | ||
[[Category:Definitions]] | [[Category:Definitions]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:12, 27 November 2010
A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice-versa. It is often a part of a rotating wheel (e.g. an eccentric wheel) or shaft (e.g. a cylinder with an irregular shape) that strikes a lever at one or more points on its circular path. The cam can be a simple tooth, as is used to deliver pulses of power to a steam hammer, for example, or an eccentric disc or other shape that produces a smooth reciprocating (back and forth) motion in the follower, which is a lever making contact with the cam.