As I recall from college I though that cam design was interesting until my teacher taught us the basics in about 15 minutes. Any good mechanical engineering mechanism text will get you 95% of the way there. I would check out the following books if you wish to get really deep into the subject:
REFERENCES
[2] G.P. Blair, C.D. McCartan, H. Hermann, “The Right Lift”,
Race Engine Technology, issue 009, July 2005 ISSN 1740-6803
(see
and also
[3] F.Y. Chen, Mechanics and Design of Cam Mechanisms,
Pergamon Press, July 1,1982, ISBN 0080280498.
[4] R.L. Norton, Cam Design and Manufacturing Handbook,
Industrial Press Inc., ISBN 0831131225.
[5] D. Dowson, G.R. Higginson, Elasto-Hydrodynamic
Lubrication, Ed.2 in SI units, Oxford University Press &
Pergamon Press, 1977, ISBN 0080213030.
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