Problem

The toolbox can automate the creation of Cams (Circular Cams) and Followers (Linear Cams) with defined motion paths. This article will go over how to create them. For more information on other Toolbox topics, review this article: Comprehensive Toolbox Guide

There are three steps to creating a Cam (Circular Cam) and Follower (Linear Cam): Setup, Motion, and Creation.

Circular Cams: Setup

1. Open SOLIDWORKS and open a blank part or assembly

2. Go to Tools > Toolbox > Cams to access the Cam Creator tool

   

3. Select the "Setup" tab and set the properties in the following steps.

   

4. Units: Specify the unit system you would like to work in for the creation of the cam. If metric is selected, dimensions you enter, such as diameter, will be interpreted as millimeters.
5. Cam Type: The two options here are Circular and Linear. Select Circular for a circular cam.
6. Follower Type: There are 5 options here, but they can be broken down into two categories driven by the motion of the follower. Linear Motion (Translating, Offset Left, Offset Right) and Angular Motion (Swing Left, Swing Right).

7. Follower Diameter: This is equal to the diameter of the groove that is cut in the cam.
8. Starting Radius: This is the distance from the center of cam rotation to the center of the follower.
9. Starting Angle: This is the angle between the follower and a horizontal line through the center of the cam. For a translating follower, type the value. For an offset or swing follower, the starting angle can be computed or adjusted. If you select computed, the software calculates the starting angle for you. If you select adjusted, type the value.
10. Rotation Direction: Clockwise or Counterclockwise
11. Offset Follower only: Offset Distance (A) and Offset Angle (B). See the illustration for descriptions of (A) and (B).

12. Swing Follower only: Arm Pivot X Offset (A), Arm Pivot Y Offset (B), and Arm Length (C). See the illustration for descriptions of (A), (B), and (C). In the illustration, (B) is equal to (C) because the Swing Follower is vertical.

Circular Cams: Motion

The next step is to switch to the Motion tab of the Cam dialog box.

On the Motion tab, specify information about how the follower moves around the cam. The Starting Radius and Starting Angle for circular cams are taken from the Setup tab. Total Motion displays the sum of the values in the Degree Motion column. If this value goes over 360 degrees, the path will be drawn in a sketch; however, the cut feature will not work.

To add a motion definition after the other motion definitions, click "Add". The Motion Creation Details dialog box appears where the new motion definition can be specified:

1. Select one of the 14 supported motion types from the Motion Type list.
2. Ending Radius is the distance from the center of cam rotation to the center of the follower when the motion definition is complete.
3. Degrees Motion is the distance the cam rotates through this motion definition.
4. Click "OK" to return to the Motion tab of the Cam dialog box.

To insert a motion definition before an existing motion definition:

1. Select the numbered row of the motion definition where you want to insert the new motion definition, and click "Insert".

2. The Motion Creation Details dialog box appears where we can add a new motion definition. We can also drag the Motion steps around in the list to reorder. To do this, left-click and hold on the grey number boxes on the left side of the list

   

To edit a motion definition:

1. Select the numbered row of the motion definition you want to edit, and click "Edit".
2. The Motion Creation Details dialog box appears where you can edit the values.
3. To delete one or more motion definitions, select the numbered row of the motion definition to remove, and click "Remove" or click "Remove All" to remove all of the motion definitions.

Circular Cams: Creation

When creating a cam using the Toolbox, there is no need for existing geometry in the part file. The cam will be built using the size parameters specified in the Creation tab.

1. Switch to the Creation tab in the Cam dialog box and fill out the following properties:

   

2. Blank Outside Diameter and Thickness: This is the outside diameter of the circular cam and the thickness of the cam plate.
3. Near Hub Diameter and Length: This is the diameter of the hole and the distance from the cam surface to the top of the hub on the near side of the cam. The near side is the side where the cam is cut for a cam with a blind track surface.
4. Far Hub Diameter and Length: This is the diameter of the hole and the distance from the cam surface to the top of the hub on the far side of the cam. The far side is the opposite of the side where the cam is cut for a cam with a blind track surface.
5. Blank Fillet Radius and Chamfer: This is the value for the fillet between the hub and the cam surface and the value for the chamfer at the top face of the hub.
6. Thru Hole Diameter: This is the value for the hole that goes through the hub.
7. Track Type and Depth: Cam tracks can be Blind or Thru. If Blind, the Depth value is the depth of the cam track into the cam surface. The Depth value cannot be greater than the Blank Thickness.
8. Resolution Type and Value: Cam tracks are comprised of arcs, curves, and lines where the points on the curve are calculated based on your selections on the Motion tab. You can control the resolution or tolerance between the points on these entities. If you select Chordal Tolerance, then the value you type represents the maximum distance from the chord between two consecutive curve points and the curve itself. If you select Angular Increment, then the value you type represents the maximum angle between two consecutive curve points.
9. Track Surfaces: Controls how the cam track is created. You can select Inner, Outer, or Both depending on your selection of Track Type.

10. Arcs: When this check box is selected, the cam track is created using a series of tangent arcs. When this check box is cleared, the cam track is created using a series of lines.
11. Click "Create" to create a cam in a new SOLIDWORKS part document.
12. Click "Done" when finished.

Linear Cams: Setup

1. Open SOLIDWORKS and open a blank part or assembly

2. Go to Tools > Toolbox > Cams to access the Cam Creator tool

   

3. Select the "Setup" tab and set the properties in the following steps.

   

4. Units: Specify the unit system you would like to work in for the creation of the cam. If metric is selected, dimensions you enter, such as diameter, will be interpreted as millimeters.
5. Cam Type: The two options here are Circular and Linear. Select Linear for a linear cam.
6. Follower Type: There are 4 options here, but they can be broken down into two categories driven by the motion of the follower. Linear Motion (Translating, Inclined) and Angular Motion (Swing Trail, Swing Lead).

7. Follower Diameter: This is equal to the diameter of the groove that is cut in the cam.
8. Starting Rise: This is the vertical distance from the base corner of the cam to the center of the follower.
9. Starting Run: This is the horizontal distance from the base corner of the cam to the center of the follower. For a Translating or Inclined follower, type the value. For a Swing follower, the Starting Run can be Computed or Adjusted. If you select Computed, the software calculates the Starting Run for you. If you select Adjusted, type the value.

10. Cam Motion: Left or Right
11. (Inclined Follower only) Follower Angle: This is the angle between the follower and a line that is perpendicular to the motion of the cam. The value must be +/- 45°.

12. (Swing Follower only) Arm Pivot X Offset (A), Arm Pivot Y Offset (B), and Arm Length (C). See the illustration for descriptions of (A), (B), and (C).

Linear Cams: Motion

The next step is to switch to the Motion tab of the Cam dialog box.

On the Motion tab of the Cam dialog box, you specify information about how your follower moves around the cam. Starting Rise and Starting Run are taken from the Setup tab. Total Motion displays the sum of the values in the Run Distance column.

To add a motion definition after the other motion definitions, click "Add". The Motion Creation Details dialog box appears where you can add a new motion definition.

1. Select one of the 14 supported motion types from the Motion Type list.
2. For a linear cam, set the Ending Rise and Run Distance values.
3. Ending Rise is the vertical distance from the base corner of the cam to the center of the follower when the motion definition is complete.
4. Run Distance is the distance the cam moves through this motion definition.
5. Click "OK" to return to the Motion tab of the Cam dialog box.

To insert a motion definition before an existing motion definition:

1. Select the numbered row of the motion definition where you want to insert the new motion definition, and click Insert.
2. The Motion Creation Details dialog box appears where you can add a new motion definition.

3. You can also drag the Motion steps around in the list to reorder. To do this, left-click and hold on the grey number boxes on the left side of the list

   

To edit a motion definition:

1. Select the numbered row of the motion definition you want to edit, and click "Edit".
2. The Motion Creation Details dialog box appears where you can edit the values.

To delete one or more motion definitions:

Select the numbered row of the motion definition you want to remove, and click "Remove" or click "Remove All" to remove all of the motion definitions.

Linear Cams: Creation

1. Switch to the Creation tab in the Cam dialog box and fill out the following properties:

   

2. Blank Thickness, Blank Width, and Blank Length: These values define the size of the cam block.
3. Track Type and Depth: Cam tracks can be Blind or Thru. If Blind, the Depth value is the depth of the cam track into the cam surface. The Depth value cannot be greater than the Blank Thickness.
4. Resolution Type and Depth: Type a value for the maximum Motion Increment per motion definition. Depending on your motion type and resolution, you could end up with an extreme number of faces even for a simple motion.

5. Track Surfaces: Controls how the cam track is created. You can select Upper, Lower, or Both depending on your selection of Track Type.

6. Arcs: When this check box is selected, the cam track is created using a series of tangent arcs. When this check box is cleared, the cam track is created using a series of lines.
7. Click "Create" to create a cam in a new SOLIDWORKS part document.
8. Click "Done" when you are finished.

Favorites

We can load, edit, or delete favorite cam types. Favorites include settings from the Setup, Motion, and Creation tabs of the Cam dialog box. SOLIDWORKS Toolbox includes cams in the Favorites list. These favorites vary between circular and linear cams, as well as between Metric and Inch units of measure.

To load, edit, or delete a favorite:

1. Go to Tools > Toolbox > Cams to access the Cam Creator tool

2. From the Cam dialog box, click Favorites > List.

   

3. The Favorites dialog box appears.
4. Select a name from the Name list.
5. Click one of the following buttons:
6. Load: Loads the data from the favorite into the Cam dialog box.
7. Edit: Edits the name or template status of the cam. When you select Template, you cannot edit the setup, motion, or creation properties of the cam.
8. Delete: Removes the favorite from the list.
9. Click "Done" to close the Favorites dialog box.

For additional support, existing customers can submit a ticket or new customers can contact Hawk Ridge Systems.