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A Parallel index cam mechanism is made up of two conjugate, parallel
plate cams in conjunction with a follower wheel that has cylindrical
rollers mounted on it. The input and output shafts of the device are
parallel to each other. When on of the cams rotates the follower
through a path dictated by the shape of the cam, the other prevents
the roller from leaving the cam surface.¡@The rigidity of the
mechanism can be increased by the preload between the cam and
follower wheel. From its special geometry, stable and smooth outputs
with high indexing accuracy can be generated. As a result, the
indexer has wildly been used in industry for various applications.
¡@¡@ The major goal of this study is to develop a computer integrated
manufacturing procedure to synthesize, analyze, and machining the
parallel index cams. To meet the application requirements, the study
includes four main parts. The first part is the design of the timing
schemes. Type ¢º (1/2
revolution) is added to the type of the indexing cam mechanism, and
therefore it can be used more wildly. The second part is the
synthesis of the motion curve. Including the common curves, it also
adds the rational B-spline curve as a synthesis tool to refine the
motion function of the follower.¡@The third part is based on the
rigid body transformation to analytically determine the conjugate
cam profiles. The last part is the analysis of the kinematic
characteristics of the mechanism, and more importantly these results
are utilized as the basis for adjusting the cam profiles and their
modified tool cutting paths.
¡@¡@To illustrate the application of the procedure, a serious of
examples is given. |