Cam and follower mechanisms are widely used to convert a rotary input motion into a controlled reciprocating or oscillating motion as output. As this mechanism has an ability to provide unlimited variety of output motions. Many works are done on the synthesis of coupler curves or path generation with four bar mechanism. The present work investigates the alternative way of dealing the path generation problems of industrial application by using combined cam mechanisms. Dimensional synthesis of four bar planar mechanism has been carried out by guiding the coupler point along an elliptical path; by genetic algorithm (GA). Subsequently four bar and cam-follower mechanisms are combined together to obtain a single-input combined mechanism. One of the objectives is to compare the path of coupler curves in four bar and combined cam mechanisms. Further, kinematic simulation of both mechanisms is performed to estimate the error and validate the proposed methodology. Results show that in both mechanisms, coupler point follows same path in ellipse and straight line profile. Proposed single input combined cam mechanism successfully applied to the complex path generation problems of profile cutting machine like square, circle and figure eight profiles.
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