Polynomial Cam Function (Introduction) - Part 1
Fundamental Law of Cam Design (1) The cam function must be continuous through the first and second derivatives of displacement across the entire interval (360 degrees)* (2) The jerk function must be finite across the entire interval (360 degrees)* * Source: Fundamentals of machine design 1st edition, Robert L. Norton, McGrawHill, page 388 Normally the motion from cam cannot be defined by only a single mathematical expression, it consists of different equation on each different segment e.g. sector A-B uses cycloidal motion , sector B-C has dwell function (R=constant), sector C-D uses cycloidal motion again to come back to its starting point, and sector D-A has dwell function. We don't combine these 4 segments into only one equation, but we separate the functions to define the movement of cam follower behavior over each segment and make sure that there is no discontinuity in the displacement, velocity and acceleration functions. Any discontinuity in the acceleration function