Cam-Follower
Use the Cam-Follower () node to force a point of one moving body to maintain contact with a curve or surface of another moving body. This connection node is generic in nature and allows any point to follow a curve or surface, including a typical radial or cylindrical cam-follower connection used in various mechanisms.
The cam-follower connection models a simplified contact and establishes a higher kinematic pair between a cam and its follower.
Boundary Selection, Cam
Select a set of boundaries which is being followed by a point called 'follower'. This option is available only when Selection type is set to Boundary in the Cam section. The boundary selection can be specified for 3D and 2D models.
Edge Selection, Cam
Select a set of edges which is being followed by a point called “follower”. This option is available only when Selection type is set to Edge in the Cam section. The edge selection can be specified only for 3D models.
Domain Selection, Follower
Select a set of domains such that the centroid of the selected entities follows the cam boundaries or edges with a certain optional offset. This option is available only when Connection point is set to Centroid of selected entities and Entity level is set to Domain in the Follower section.
Boundary Selection, Follower
Select a set of boundaries such that the centroid of the selected entities follows the cam boundaries or edges with a certain optional offset. This option is available only when Connection point is set to Centroid of selected entities and Entity level is set to Boundary in the Follower section.
Edge Selection, Follower
Select a set of edges such that the centroid of the selected entities follows the cam boundaries or edges with a certain optional offset. This option is available only when Connection point is set to Centroid of selected entities and Entity level is set to Edge in the Follower section. The edge selection can be specified only for 3D models.
Point Selection, Follower
Select a set of points such that the centroid of the selected entities follows the cam boundaries or edges with a certain optional offset. This option is available only when Connection point is set to Centroid of selected entities and Entity level is set to Point in the Follower section.
Point Selection, Follower (Singleton)
Select a single point, such that the selected point follows the cam boundaries or edges with a certain optional offset. This option is available when Connection point is set to Geometric Point in the Follower section.
Cam
The cam selection can be defined on both rigid and elastic bodies. Thus, cam boundaries and edges can have any kind of rigid body motion as well as deformation. When defining a cam selection, it is also be possible to use boundaries or edges that are defined outside the physics interface.
Select the Selection typeBoundary or Edge.
Enter a value of offset based on the selection:
For Boundary, enter Follower point offset from cam boundary, Xoffset, as a scalar value.
For Edge, enter Follower point offset from cam edge, Xoffset, as a vector.
Follower
A follower is defined through a point which follows the cam boundaries or edges with a certain optional offset. The follower point can be a part of rigid or elastic bodies. If there is a need for multiple points to follow the cam boundaries or edges, multiple instances the Cam-Follower feature should be used.
Select the Connection pointCentroid of selected entities or Geometric point.
When Centroid of selected entities is selected as a Connection point, specify the Entity level as Domain, Boundary, Edge, or Point.
Connection Force
Select the Connection forceDo not compute, Computed using weak constraints, or Computed using penalty method in order to disable or enable the computation of the cam-follower connection force.
In case Computed using penalty method is selected, specify a value of Penalty factor (pc) used for the connection constraint.
Activation Condition
Select Connection stateAlways active, or Conditionally active.
When Conditionally active is selected, specify a value of the Connection tolerance (Δ) used in the connection constraint. This option can be used to deactivate the connection between the two bodies based on their spatial positions and the value of the connection tolerance.
Location in User Interface
Context Menus
Multibody Dynamics>Cam-Follower
Ribbon
Physics tab with Multibody Dynamics selected:
Global>Multibody Dynamics>Cam-Follower