A cam drive is used for a mechanism that drives an automated assembly machine. The cam follower must rise 15 mm with harmonic motion in 4 sec, dwell for 2 sec, fall 20 mm with harmonic motion in 4 sec, dwell for 2 sec, and then repeat the sequence. 

a. Determine the required speed of the cam in rpm. 

b. Using Excel create a spreadsheet of follower displacement, velocity, and acceleration as a function of time for one cycle. Use 0.01s time increments. 

c. Create an x-y graph of follower velocity vs time. 

d. Determine the cam coordinates assuming a base circle of 35mm and a knife- edged follower 

e. Calculate by hand the maximum velocity and acceleration achieved by the cam. Check these against your spreadsheet values. 

f. Assuming a vertical frictionless follower located directly above the cam, is there any risk of the follower losing contact with the cam surface during operation? Explain your reasoning.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

a To determine the required speed of the cam in rpm we need to calculate the total distance traveled by the cam follower in one cycle which is 15 mm 20 mm 35 mm The time required for one cycle is 4 se... View the full answer