How to Choose the Right Cam Follower for Your Needs

Your Guide to buying the best Cam Followers

Overview

Cam followers are essential components in many industrial machines and are used in a variety of applications, ranging from conveyor systems to robotics. This buying guide will provide an in-depth description of Cam Followers, their features, and how to select the right Cam Follower for your application. It will also discuss important considerations for installation and maintenance, and provide tips on where to buy quality Cam Followers. With this guide, you will be armed with all the information you need to make an informed purchase decision.

Key features

  1. Type: Determine what type of cam followers you need based on your application. Options include standard, heavy duty, yoke, radial needle, stud type and cylindrical.
  2. Size: Consider the outer diameter size of the cam followers you need based on your specific application. This will typically be expressed as a metric measurement, such as 16, 25, 30, etc.
  3. Material: Select the material of the cam followers based on the specific requirements of your application. Common materials include carbon steel, stainless steel, and plastic.
  4. Dynamic Load Rating: Understand the dynamic load rating of the cam followers, as this gives an indication of how much weight the cam follower can handle.
  5. Static Load Rating: Consider the static load rating of the cam followers, as this will inform you of the maximum load it can take without failure.
  6. Precision Grade: Pay attention to the precision level of the cam followers, as this will determine the accuracy of the operation. Higher precision grades will provide better accuracy.
  7. Seal Type: Determine the seal type you need for your application. Common seal types include open, closed, rubber sealed, and shielded.
  8. Mounting Type: Choose the mounting type based on your application needs. Common mounting types include stud, pillow block, and flange.
  9. Installation: Consider whether you can install the cam followers yourself, or if you need to enlist the help of a professional.

See the most popular Cam Followers on Amazon

Important considerations

Pros

  • Long-Lasting: Cam followers are highly durable, making them an ideal choice for a wide variety of applications. They are often constructed of tough materials such as steel, making them able to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use.
  • Cost-Effective: Cam followers are relatively inexpensive compared to other types of industrial components, allowing customers to obtain them within their budget.
  • Accurate Results: Cam followers are designed to produce precise and accurate results, making them ideal for applications that require accurate measurements.
  • Low Maintenance: Cam followers are known for their low maintenance requirements, meaning that they can be left unattended for extended periods of time without needing to be serviced or repaired.
  • Easy Installation: Cam followers are designed to be easy to install and use, making them a popular choice when it comes to industrial components.

Cons

  • Cost: Depending on the type, size, and material, Cam Followers can be expensive compared to other types of motion control components.
  • Installation: Cam Followers require precise alignment and installation for proper operation.
  • Reliability: Cam Followers are prone to wear and tear, and require regular maintenance and cleaning.
  • Environment: Cam Followers are not designed for harsh environments and may suffer from accelerated wear or fail due to dust or dirt.
  • Load Limits: Cam Followers have weight or load limits that must not be exceeded, or the component could be damaged or fail.

Best alternatives

  1. Needle Roller Bearings - These bearings have needle-shaped rolling elements to offer a higher load capacity than other roller bearings.
  2. Spherical Roller Bearings - These bearings have a cylindrical outer race with a spherical inner race to absorb misalignments and accommodate heavy loads.
  3. Cylindrical Roller Bearings - These bearings feature rollers that are slightly tapered in shape, allowing them to accommodate radial and axial loads.
  4. Tapered Roller Bearings - These bearings are designed to accommodate radial and axial loads, with the rollers having a tapered shape to provide a better radius of contact.

Related tools, supplies, and accessories

  • Cam Followers - A device that uses an offset cam to convert rotational motion into linear motion.
  • Mounting Bracket - A part that is used to mount the Cam Followers onto a surface.
  • Mounting Bolts - Fasteners that hold the Cam Followers in place on the mounting bracket.
  • Bearings - A part of the Cam Follower that helps reduce friction and support the load.
  • Retaining Rings - Rings that are used to keep the Cam Followers in position.
  • Oil Seals - Seals that are used to help keep dust and dirt out of the Cam Followers.
  • Lubricants - Products used to lubricate the Cam Followers and reduce friction.

Common questions

  1. What is a Cam Follower? A cam follower is a specialized bearing used to transfer linear motion from one rotating shaft to another, or to guide or track motion along a straight line.
  2. What types of Cam Followers are available? Cam followers are generally available in two types: roller followers and needle roller followers. Roller followers are more commonly used and are constructed with a cylindrical outer roller and an inner bearing assembly. Needle roller followers use a cylindrical outer roller and an inner needle roller bearing assembly.
  3. What are the benefits of using a Cam Follower? Cam followers provide excellent linear motion and tracking performance, as well as high load carrying capacity, low cost, and low maintenance requirements.
  4. What types of applications are Cam Followers used in? Cam followers are commonly used in a variety of industrial applications such as machine tools, robotics, and conveyor systems.
  5. How are Cam Followers mounted? Cam followers are typically mounted with either a stud or shaft mounting assembly. Stud mounting assemblies use a threaded stud and mounting flange. Shaft mounting assemblies use a shaft and bearing housing that can be mounted directly to a housing or to a shaft.
  6. What are the important considerations when selecting a Cam Follower? Important considerations when selecting a cam follower include the type of application, load requirements, outer diameter, operating temperature, shaft size, loading direction, and mounting type.
  7. What should I look for in a quality Cam Follower? Quality cam followers should be made from high-quality materials such as stainless steel or corrosion-resistant steel, and should have precision ground raceways and rollers for smooth operation and long life.

Trivia

The largest recorded cam follower was built in 2011 by a company called Festo. Measuring 10 meters in length and weighing in at more than 4 tons, it was used to demonstrate Festo's expertise in automation applications. The follower was installed in the company's headquarters in Esslingen, Germany, and was powered by three servomotors. The impressive device wowed visitors and was featured in the Guinness World Records book. Sources: https://www.festo.com/group/en/cms/12927.htm

Disclaimer: This buying guide was not created by humans, and it is possible that some of it's content is inaccurate or incomplete. We do not guarantee or take any liability for the accuracy of this buying guide. Additionally, the images on this page were generated by AI and may not accurately represent the product that is being discussed. We have tried to convey useful information, but it is our subjective opinion and should not be taken as complete or factual.