13.1 INTRODUCTION TO RESPONSE

In Chap. 12 mathematical models of the differential equations were employed to establish the performance of cam-follower systems. Modeling techniques were utilized to investigate the vibratory response of the follower in the time domain. In this chapter much of the dynamic study is done as an input of time transients to the cam-follower system. Also, Wiederrich (2001) has contributed in the development of this chapter. In the beginning, we will be operating in the frequency domain. The dynamic response of a cam-follower system has the following three considerations:

• The driving motion produced by the cam, called the base excitation. Note that other external disturbing forces may also act on the follower at the same time.

• The mass, elasticity, and damping of the system between the base excitation and the follower end point.

• The behavior of the follower caused by the excitation, which is called the response.

The studies presented in this chapter all use the single degree-of-freedom (DOF) model. As stated in Chap. 12, one DOF is sufficiently accurate to model most cam-follower systems. This DOF, the fundamental mode of the system, usually represents the great majority of the dynamic deformation of the system. In systems in which one DOF is not clearly dominant, the error in a one-DOF model may be too great. When this occurs, either a multi-DOF system must be used or the system structurally redesigned to mitigate the adverse effect...