Optimal Synthesis of Disk Cam Mechanisms with a Roller Follower Considering Cam Size Minimization and Rotational Balancing

Abstract

This paper presents the optimal synthesis of disk cam mechanisms with a roller follower considering cam size minimization and rotational balancing. With the aid of parametric vector equations of the cam profile, geometric properties of the disk cam are derived. The concept of a disk cam with an inner arc-slot hole and a pair of added circular counterweights is then proposed to practice rotational balancing for the cam shaft. Optimization models to find the minimized cam size and to achieve rotational balancing of the cam shaft with a minimized polar moment of area are established. Two case studies for the optimal synthesis of disk cams with either an offset translating roller follower or an oscillating roller follower are demonstrated. For each case, both the optimized cam size and polar moment of area can be considerably reduced. Hence, this study provides a feasible methodology to synthesize disk cam mechanisms with a roller follower.