Design of high-speed cam profiles for vibration reduction using command smoothing technique

Unwanted vibration in cam-follower systems causes increased forces, noise, wear, and operating costs. This paper proposes a novel method to design high-speed cam profiles for vibration reduction by using command smoothing technique. Using system natural frequency and damping ratio, the technique reduces vibrations by intelligently smoothing any basic profiles. Furthermore, an example is given to express the design process and to verify the effectiveness of the method. The displacement, velocity, acceleration, and jerk properties of the proposed profile are demonstrated to show the excellent smoothness, which benefits high-speed cam follower systems. The comparisons of vibration properties between the smoothed profile and 3-4-5 polynomial profile are explored and quantified. The smoothed profile will induce zero vibration at the design operating speed and produce a low level of vibration around it. Experimental results obtained from a rectilinear control plant validate the simulated dynamic behavior and the effectiveness of the profile created by using command smoothing.