Barrel Cam modeling
Barrel Cam modeling
(OP)
I'm trying to make up what I know as a barrel cam. This is a cylinder with a groove around it, but the groove moves longitudinally as it goes around. You can see what I've got so far at http://home.surewest.net/mathias/posts/panel_cam_2.jpg
I've circled, in a very rough way, those two areas that need improvement. At the right-hand area, there's a step at the transition between the vertical slot and the spiral part. At the left-hand area, the transition is sharp, not at all what you get if you use an end mill to create this.
I'd like to figure out how to make this better. It seems like there should be a way to model this much as you'd make it - take a cylinder (cutter) and move it along a path on the surface of the part. However, I'm not even sure you can create a path sketch on the surface of the cylinder.
All suggestions welcomed.
I've circled, in a very rough way, those two areas that need improvement. At the right-hand area, there's a step at the transition between the vertical slot and the spiral part. At the left-hand area, the transition is sharp, not at all what you get if you use an end mill to create this.
I'd like to figure out how to make this better. It seems like there should be a way to model this much as you'd make it - take a cylinder (cutter) and move it along a path on the surface of the part. However, I'm not even sure you can create a path sketch on the surface of the cylinder.
All suggestions welcomed.






RE: Barrel Cam modeling
There is not a good way to create it. I submitted an Enhancement Request many times for what you are asking (move a cutter along a path, just like many CAM softwares) to create a cut, but it has been done yet (SW2006 anyhow). I usually try to use Multi Bodies to create this. Looks like you may try a face fillet for the sharp corner, but based on my past experience I don't know that it will work either.
mncad
RE: Barrel Cam modeling
Barrel Cam thread559-74659
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091
RE: Barrel Cam modeling
htt
Best Regards,
Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)
Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience every time.
RE: Barrel Cam modeling
RE: Barrel Cam modeling
Do you need a real accurate track, or can you get by with a good picture? Solidworks cannot do an exact representation of a track of this sort due to the lack of ability to sweep a solid. If a real good picture is all you need, dud29341 suggested the best way. A good check of your representation is to build a quick assembly of the cam and a follower, mate the follower tangent to the side of the track and rotate the cam. When the simulation hangs up, run an interference check and look at the size of the small moon shaped interferences.
Timelord
RE: Barrel Cam modeling