Synthesis of Stationary Cams

Abstract

This paper presents a method for designing stationary cams with constant speed roller followers. A stationary cam is immovable, but it guides its follower to produce a desired motion with the follower being driven by other links. In order to avoid infinite jerk of the follower motion, the pitch curve of a stationary cam should consist of pieces of transition curve, which provide gradual change in curvature and are interposed between straight lines and circular arcs. The general parametric equations of transition curves are derived and the cam design process is demonstrated. This method is applicable for designing the guideways of tool magazine in automatic tool-changing system of the machine center.