ON THE VIBRATION CONTROL OF CAM-FOLLOWER MECHANISMS DIRECTLY ACTING ON THE FOLLOWER

摘要

This paper discusses on the vibration control of cam-follower mechanisms when acting directly onto the follower. Cam-mechanisms are widely used, e.g. as components in high speed automated machine, to convert a revolute motion into a linear reciprocating one. Due to the elasticity of all the mechanical elements (e.g. cam, follower, return spring and supports), the output of such a function-generating mechanism, i.e. the follower motion, is affected by undesired dynamics. Those may possibly compromise the accuracy of the final movement, whose performance is frequently presented in terms of follower acceleration. Common techniques approach the control problem in an indirect way: they are based on (a) optimal selection of design parameters, (b) optimal design of cam's profile or (c) optimal control of the mechanism input speed. As far as the authors are aware, there is not a clear indication of why direct control on the follower has not been considered by researchers so far. This paper would thus like to address the limits of such a control. Active and passive techniques are investigated using theoretical simulations and some considerations are inferred consequently.