Mechanical Cam Indexer is a transmission device that achieves intermittent precise motion through the mechanical engagement between a cam and a follower. It can convert the continuous rotational motion of the input shaft into periodic "rotation pause" alternating motion of the output shaft (or worktable), Mechanical Cam Indexer is widely used in automation equipment that requires precise positioning and intermittent operations.
The core of Mechanical Cam Indexer consists of two key components, which achieve motion transmission through rigid meshing of the mechanical structure: Cam: installed on the input shaft, usually designed with specific contours (such as disc, cylinder, arc surface, etc.) according to motion requirements, and is the "command generator" of motion laws. Follower: Connected to the output shaft (or worktable), its structure matches the cam profile (such as rollers, gear teeth, etc.), and intermittent motion is achieved by following the changes in the cam profile.
1). Drive phase: The input shaft drives the cam to rotate continuously, and the cam profile drives the follower to move, causing the output shaft to rotate (or translate) synchronously with the follower.
2). Pause stage: When the cam rotates to the "locking section" contour, the driven part is accurately positioned and kept stationary. At this time, the output shaft enters a pause state for external equipment to complete processing, assembly, inspection and other operations.
3). Recitation: As the input shaft continues to rotate, the engagement between the cam and the driven component repeats the "drive lock" process, achieving periodic intermittent motion of the output shaft.
According to the structural form of the cam, Mechanical Cam Indexer can be divided into the following common types, with different emphasis on their applicable scenarios:
|
Type |
Structure Characteristics |
Core Advantages |
Typical Application Scenarios |
|
Disc-shaped cam indexer |
The cam of the disc-shaped cam indexer is disc-shaped, and the follower moves along the contour of the cam end face. The indexing angle is usually fixed and evenly divided (such as at positions 8 and 12). |
Compact structure, low cost, suitable for light load and small pitch angle scenarios. |
Small component assembly machine, electronic testing equipment |
|
Cylindrical cam indexer |
The cam of the cylindrical cam indexer is a cylinder with a contour machined on the outer surface of the cylinder, and the follower moves along the axial or radial direction. |
Good high-speed performance (input speed up to 1000 RPM) and strong load-bearing capacity. |
High speed packaging machines and printing equipment |
|
Curved cam indexer |
The cam of the curved cam indexer is a curved structure, and the driven part meshes with the cam through a tooth profile, resulting in extremely high indexing accuracy. |
The positioning accuracy can reach ± 5-30 arc seconds, with strong vibration resistance and load capacity. |
CNC machine tool indexing table, precision machining equipment |
|
Flat cam indexer |
The cam of the flat cam indexer is flat, and the follower contacts the contour of the cam plane through rollers, making the motion trajectory more flexible. |
High degree of design freedom, capable of achieving non-uniform intermittent motion. |
Non standard automated production line, transmission of irregular workpieces |
Here In this page, we introduce 70 DF Cam Indexers from TallMan Robotics, which is the top leading manufacturer of Cam Indexer, you will see data sheet, production pictures,vedios as follows:
Also You are welcome to watch more projects or visit our video gallery by Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tallmanrobotics
The selection and application of mechanical cam indexer should pay attention to the following key parameters:
1).Division accuracy: The deviation of the output shaft pause position, usually expressed in arc seconds (1 arc second ≈ 0.00028 °) or millimeters, and high-precision models can reach ± 5 arc seconds.
2).Dividing angle: The angle of each rotation of the output shaft (such as 30 °, 45 °, 60 °, etc.), which can be designed according to the number of workstations (such as 12 workstations corresponding to a 30 ° dividing angle).
3).Drive angle (travel angle): The angle at which the input shaft rotates when the cam pushes the driven part to move (such as 180 °, 270 °), and the remaining angle is the pause locking angle.
4). Maximum speed: The maximum continuous rotational speed (RPM) allowed by the input shaft, which affects the production cycle of the equipment.
5).Load capacity: The maximum value that can withstand radial and axial loads, which is related to the cam material (such as alloy steel) and structural strength.
6).Repetitive positioning accuracy: The consistency error of the output shaft positioning after multiple cycles directly affects the stability of product quality.
Mechanical Cam Indexer is the core component for achieving precise intermittent motion in automation equipment. Its essence is to define the motion law in advance through the mechanical design of the cam profile, and then convert continuous power into controllable "rotation pause" actions through rigid meshing. It has become an indispensable transmission solution in fields such as food packaging, precision manufacturing, electronic assembly, and machine tool processing due to its high precision, high reliability, and strong environmental adaptability. Mechanical Cam Indexer is a typical representative of "mechanical precision control" in industrial automation.
Mechanical Cam Indexer is a high-precision and highly reliable mechanical indexing device, particularly suitable for automation applications that require high speed, high rigidity, and maintenance free. Compared to electronic indexing schemes such as servo motors and reducers, Mechanical Cam Indexer has more advantages in long-term stability, speed, and impact resistance.
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