Educational Model of Groove Cam

My Educational Mechanical Examples Series

This model is one of my educational mechanical mechanism examples on 80mm x 80mm base plates.
You can find all models in the series in this collection => [Mechanical Mechanism Examples]

The present model

This is an educational model of groove cam, which can convert a rotational motion into an arbitrary rocking motion.

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR THE INTRODUCTION VIDEO → https://youtu.be/t_w5ab848ZU 
*Somehow, the editor of printables is currently broken and does not allow me to embed the video.

Brief Description

A cam changes the position of a follower as it rotates, and by designing the cam profile appropriately, the follower can be made to follow almost any desired motion.

In ordinary plate cam mechanisms, the follower must be pressed against the cam surface by an external force such as gravity or a spring.

In contrast, a groove cam—like the one in this model—uses a groove-shaped track to constrain the follower. Because the follower is captured inside the groove, no additional force is required to keep it in contact with the cam, and its motion is fully guided by the geometric shape of the track.

In this model, the cam profile consists of a single continuous groove that winds around the disk twice, causing the output arm to make one reciprocating stroke per two cam rotations. Because the groove makes two full turns, the path intersects itself at one point. To prevent the follower from entering the wrong branch at this intersection, it is shaped like a crescent and is free to rotate as it moves along the track, ensuring that it always follows the correct path.

Reference

• https://karakurist.jp/?p=2143

Related Model

Groove is engraved on the cylinder:

Slotted outer ring works as a groove cam:

Case

This model is compatible with the case included in my first set.

Printing

• Use the models named ???-printable.stl for printing.
  The models named ???-assembled.stl are provided just to show how they should be assembled.
   

• Use well-dried PETG to have better dimensional accuracy.

• Use 0.1 mm or 0.08 mm layer height to have smoother surfaces.

• Use slow printing speed for overhangs.

• Select “Random” seam position to have smoother rotation.
  Randomly distributed seam should be easily worn out after some wearing.Printing

Sanding and Filing

Sometimes, the gears suffer from the stringing effect and/or elephant foot effect, resulting in a too tight fit to the shafts (they are designed with a 0.15 mm radial clearance). 

If you see rough surface on the shafts due to stringing, sand off the roughness with a small piece of sand paper.

If you feel the gears do not rotate smoothly due to an elephant effect, widen the hole slightly by using a thin round bar file.

Without those issues, the parts should rotate very smoothly with minimal friction.

Assembly

Secure the cam, the arm and the follower with the retaining rings.

Other examples

You may also be interested in the models in my educational mechanical mechanism examples.

Find them in this collection:
https://www.printables.com/@osamutake_3341417/collections/2728214

Happy printing!

Acknowledgement

I got into gears thanks to K.$uzuki's amazing articles and YouTube videos. Many of the mechanisms shown in this series came from the introductions on his website. He also makes excellent gear models himself. This series wouldn’t have existed without his inspiration.

I learned a lot about technical detail of designing gear tooth profiles from Haguruma-No-Hanashi website. I’m truly grateful for that.