A unified analytical disk cam profile generation methodology using the Instantaneous Center of Rotation for educational purpose

Cam design is a fundamental part of the Mechanism and Machine Theory (MMT) and is included in the vast majority of MMT books. Cam profile design is usually determined with graphical and analytical methods. Graphical methods are didactically very successful to introduce the theory of cam profile generation in a simple way. In turn, analytical methods allow computer implementations of cam profile generation in order to reproduce it accurately. Most modern MMT books describe analytical methods using geometric equations and envelope theory. However, the analytical profile definition depends on the specific type of follower and there is a lack of a general formulation. This work presents a unified and general analytical formulation for the disk cam profile determination. Based on the Instantaneous Center of Rotation and the kinematic inversion, the formulation provides analytical expressions of the cam profile and is applicable to any type of follower. Thus, the unified formulation can be used in forthcoming books on this discipline.