Design of Cam Mechanism with Negative Radius Roller-Follower

Abstract

Cam mechanisms with a negative radius roller-follower allow the design of simple machines capable of exerting remarkably high forces. Furthermore, the concave-convex nature of the contact surface between the cam and the follower results in a low contact stress and the ready formation of a lubricating layer. This paper presents a simple method for the design and analysis of a cam mechanism with a negative radius roller-follower. In the proposed approach, conjugate surface theory is employed to derive a kinematic model of the cam mechanism. Analytical expressions for the pressure angle and principal curvatures of the cam profile are then derived. The validity of the proposed design methodology is demonstrated by machining a cam mechanism having a negative radius rollerfollower with a radius of 100 mm.