A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice versa. It is often a part of a rotating wheel or shaft that strikes a lever at one or more points on its circular path.

The cam can be a simple tooth, as is used to deliver pulses of power to a steam hammer, for example, or an eccentric disc or another shape that produces a smooth reciprocating motion in the follower, which is a lever making contact with the cam.

Elements of cam

Cam is known as driver memberFollower is known as the driven member frame which Guides & Support the cam.

Cam and Follower

Cam is a mechanical device used to generate irregular motion of mechanical elements. The cams are used to convert the rotary motion into oscillatory motion or oscillatory motion into the rotary motion. The two links act as an input member. The other links act as an output membrane, which is called as a follower as shown in the fig.