Dynamic aspects of a new experimental apparatus for tribological investigations on cam-follower pairs

The cam-follower mechanism is one of the most complex lubricated contacts, due to its continuous variations of load, velocity and geometry. Both theoretical-numerical and experimental studies are very difficult to perform and need to be often done in parallel. Numerical simulations need an experimental verification and experiments need often a dynamic simulation for a better interpretation of the experimental results and also for design purposes. In this work the importance of the dynamic behaviour of the whole system connected to a cam-follower pair is evidenced. A new experimental apparatus has been designed with the aid of a simulation programme contemporaneously developed. Different versions of the apparatus have been analysed with purposely developed versions of the programme, particularly for a correct estimation of the contact load. Some sample results obtained for a cam with a spline profile used with two versions of the apparatus are presented. The influence of the dynamic effects particularly on the contact load is shown.