Cam Design

followerMotion( RRD, Angle, Disp, Type, )

Returns

<follower motion> Construct a follower motion using standard motion curves.

RRD

<string> One of "rise", "return" or "dwell". If "dwell", then remaning arguments are not required.

Angle

<number> Cam rotation angle in degrees.

Disp

<number> Displacement of the follower.

Type

<string> Type of motion. One of: "cycloidal", "parabolic", "mod_trap", "const_vel", "doub_harm", "mod_sine", "cubic1", "cubic2", "cubic3", "poly_34", "poly_345" or "poly_4567".

camTransRoller( FolMotion, Center, BaseRad , StartAng , RPM , RolRad , Offset )

Returns

<cam> Constructs a cam with transiting roller follower.

FolMotion

<curve/array of followerMotion> Curve form 0-360 or an array of followerMotion's representating the displacement curve for the cam.

Center

<anchor> Center location for cam.

BaseRad

<number> Base radius of cam.

StartAng

<number> Start angle of cam.

RPM

<number> Rotations per minute for cam.

RolRad

<number> Roller radius of the follower.

Offset

<number> Follower offset.

camTransFlat( FolMotion, Center, BaseRad , StartAng , RPM )

Returns

<cam> Constructs a cam with transiting flat follower.

FolMotion

<curve/array of followerMotion> Curve form 0-360 or an array of followerMotion's representating the displacement curve for the cam.

Center

<anchor> Center location for cam.

BaseRad

<number> Base radius of cam.

StartAng

<number> Start angle of cam.

RPM

<number> Rotations per minute for cam.

camSwingRoller( FolMotion, Center, BaseRad , StartAng , RPM, Pivot, FolLen , RolRad )

Returns

<cam> Constructs a cam with oscillating roller follower.

FolMotion

<curve/array of followerMotion> Curve form 0-360 or an array of followerMotion's representating the displacement curve for the cam.

Center

<anchor> Center location for cam.

BaseRad

<number> Base radius of cam.

StartAng

<number> Start angle of cam.

RPM

<number> Rotations per minute for cam.

Pivot

<point> Pivot center of follower arm.

FolLen

<number> Length of swinging follower arm.

RolRad

<number> Roller radius of the follower.

cylindricalCam( FolMotion, Center, Radius , StartAng , RPM )

Returns

<cam> Constructs a cylindrical cam.

FolMotion

<curve/array of followerMotion> Curve form 0-360 or an array of followerMotion's representating the displacement curve for the cam.

Center

<anchor> Center location for cam.

Radius

<number> Radius of cylinder.

StartAng

<number> Start angle of cam.

RPM

<number> Rotations per minute for cam.

camProfile( Cam )

Returns

<curve> cam profile curve.

Cam

<cam> The cam whose profile is to be found.

camPosition( Cam )

Returns

<matrix> A matrix of 2D points representating cam angle and follower position.

Cam

<cam> The cam whose follower displacement is to be found.

camVelocity( Cam )

Returns

<matrix> A matrix of 2D points representating cam angle and follower velocity.

Cam

<cam> The cam whose follower velocity is to be found.

camAcceleration( Cam )

Returns

<matrix> A matrix of 2D points representating cam angle and follower acceleration.

Cam

<cam> The cam whose follower acceleration is to be found.

camJerk( Cam )

Returns

<matrix> A matrix of 2D points representating cam angle and follower jerk.

Cam

<cam> The cam whose follower jerk is to be found.

camPressureAng( Cam )

Returns

<matrix> A matrix of 2D points representating cam angle and pressure angle.

Cam

<cam> The cam whose pressure angle is to be found.

camRadiusCurvature( Cam )

Returns

<matrix> A matrix of 2D points representating cam angle and radius of curvature.

Cam

<cam> The cam whose radius of curvature is to be found.

camOptPrAng( Cam, MaxPrAng )

Returns

<number> The suggested new base radius of the cam.

Cam

<cam> The cam whose base radius is to be optimized.

MaxPrAng

<MaxPrAng> The maximum pressure angle allowed in the cam

camOptRadCuvt( Cam, MinRadCuvt )

Returns

<number> The suggested new base radius of the cam.

Cam

<cam> The cam whose base radius is to be optimized.

MinRadCuvt

<cam> The minimum radius of curvature allowed in the cam

Plots in cam design

initGnuplot()

Returns

<none> It opens a gnuplot session to recieve commands.

resetPlot()

Returns

<none> Resets a gnuplot session. Next plot will erase previous ones.

setPlotStyle( Style )

Returns

<none> Changes the plotting style of a gnuplot session.

Style

<string> One of "points", "lines", "dots", "steps", etc. that are used in gnuplot.

setXlabel( Label )

Returns

<none> Sets the X label for a gnuplot session.

Style

<string> Label for the X axis.

setYlabel( Label )

Returns

<none> Sets the Y label for a gnuplot session.

Label

<string> Label for the Y axis.

setGrid( State )

Returns

<none> Turns the grid on/off.

State

<string> One of "on" or "off".

plotMatrix( Mat )

Returns

<none> Plots a 2d graph from a mat_2d_obj.

Mat

<string> Any mat_2d_obj in Alpha1.

savePlot( Filename )

Returns

<none> Saves the plot as an encapsulated postscript (.eps file).

Filename

<string> Name of the eps file.

closeGnuplot()

Returns

<none> Closes the gnuplot session.

Use of NURBS to generate follower motion

bspConstraint( Type, Param, Value )

Returns

<b_constraint_obj> A new bspline constraint object.

Type

<string> The type of constraint. One of "posn", "vel", or "accl".

Param

<number> Param value, i.e. in cam design the cam rotation angle.

Value

<number> Constraint value.

camMotionCrv( Constraints, Order, KnotVec, Weights )

Returns

<curve> Curve representing the follower displacement motion.

Constraints

<array of bspConstraint> Array of the bsplie constraints.

Order

<number> Order of the spline curve.

KnotVec

<knotVector> (Optional) Knot vector of the B-spline curve. A uniform knot vector is used by default.

Weights

<vector> (Optional) Weight sequence of the B-spline curve. A vector with all weights equal to one is selected by default.