A General Design Method of Cam Profile Based on Cubic Splines and Dynamic Model: Case Study of a Gravity-Driven Tricycle

Abstract

This paper proposes a general design method for cams based on the kinematics and dynamics of a mechanical system. According to the actuator’s trajectory, the cam profile is generated in reverse based on the kinematic model of the system. Firstly, the cam design’s optimising problem is converted into the execution trajectory’s optimisation to obtain the optimum operation trajectory according to the actuator’s requirements. Secondly, the relationship between the cam profile and the actuation trajectory is modelled based on the kinematics and dynamics of the mechanical system. Then, applying the cubic spline interpolation method, the cam profile is generated, and the error compensation methods are illustrated through numerical analysis. Finally, the validity of the presented design method is verified through experiments, which demonstrate the reliability of this method.

Analytical, Numerical and Experimental Analysis of a Positive Displacement Cam Mechanism—A Case Study

“…The dynamic analysis within MATLAB/Simulink software, considering the elastic deformation of the member, highlighted an important effect of the lateral deformation of the camshaft on the cam motion. Jiang et al [40] modeled the relationship between the cam profile and the actuation trajectory and applied the cubic spline interpolation method in the cam profile generation; the study approached the case of a gravity-driven tricycle.…”