Cam Followers

Cam followers, also known as cam rollers or cam follower bearings, are specialised roller bearings engineered to follow the profile of a cam or track. These critical components transfer rotary motion into precise linear motion by maintaining direct contact with the cam lobe, a process vital for smooth, reliable machinery operation. Their function is essential in automation, material handling, and complex process equipment. Our range includes standard and heavy duty cam followers to suit diverse operational demands.

Shop cam followers online at RS Australia.

Key Uses of Cam Followers and Bearings

Cam followers are engineered to provide distinct advantages in mechanical systems, ensuring high performance and reliability.

• Efficient Load Transmission: Cam followers are typically designed with a thick-walled outer ring, enabling them to accommodate high radial loads and shock loads. This distributes the load across a larger contact surface, mitigating point stress and preventing premature wear.
• Smooth, Reliable Operation: By utilising precision rolling elements, cam followers significantly reduce friction. This reduction in friction minimises vibration, ensuring smooth, low-noise mechanical movement and repeatable accuracy in automated processes.
• Durability and Longevity: Many cam followers are sealed to protect internal components from contaminants like dust, debris, and moisture. This robust design, combined with their high load capacity, ensures a longer operational life, leading to reduced maintenance and minimising costly unplanned downtime.

Shop Our Range of Cam Followers

Cam followers are available in several configurations to meet specific mounting, load, and application requirements. The selection of the correct type is essential for optimal performance.

Stud Type Cam Followers

• Main Feature: Features an integrated threaded stud (pin) acting as the inner raceway, allowing quick cantilever mounting directly into machine components.
• Suitable For: Applications requiring simplified assembly and a robust mounting solution. They are available in a wide range of standard thread sizes.

Yoke Cam Rollers

• Main Feature: Designed with a through-hole for a mounting shaft or clevis pin, allowing for straddle-mounting (support on both sides).
• Suitable For: Heavy-load applications or mechanisms where follower deflection must be minimised, such as in press or conveyor guide systems, as the straddle-mount provides high rigidity.

Heavy Duty Cam Followers

• Main Feature: Engineered with reinforced components (e.g., thicker outer rings, full-complement needle rollers) to withstand significant radial and shock loads. They may feature a heavy-duty slot or a hex head for ease of mounting.
• Suitable For: Demanding industrial environments with high-impact forces or continuous high-load operations, such as in metal processing or heavy material handling.

Concentric Cam Followers

• Main Feature: Features a concentric mounting stud or bore, meaning the outer ring's running surface is perfectly parallel to the axis of the stud or bore.
• Suitable For: Standard applications where uniform pressure distribution and consistent, balanced tracking are required without the need for fine positional adjustment.

Eccentric Cam Followers

• Main Feature: Incorporates an eccentric collar or stud, creating a precise, adjustable offset between the mounting axis and the follower's outer ring.
• Suitable For: Applications requiring precise positional adjustment. This allows for preloading the follower against a track to eliminate backlash or ensuring uniform load distribution.

How to Choose the Right Cam Followers for Your Needs

Selecting the correct cam follower is critical for maximising system performance, accuracy, and service life. Key selection criteria include load, material, mounting specifications, and the operational environment.

Load Capacity and Application Type

It is essential to evaluate both the static and dynamic load ratings of the follower.

• Static Load Rating ($C_0$): This is the maximum load a non-rotating follower can endure without permanent deformation, critical for stationary or high-impact loads.
• Dynamic Load Rating ($C$): This rating calculates the bearing's fatigue life (L10) under a rotating load, determining its expected service life.

Heavy-duty applications, such as in stamping presses, necessitate heavy-duty cam followers. Lighter-duty machinery, like in sorting systems, may use standard models.

Cam Follower Material

The material must be compatible with the operational environment.

• Carbon Steel: Typically used for general-purpose applications, often with a black oxide finish for moderate corrosion resistance.
• Stainless Steel: Essential for corrosive environments, such as washdown areas in food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or wastewater treatment.

Bore Size

For yoke types, the inner bore must match the shaft diameter. For stud types, the stud diameter and thread size (e.g., M12) must match the tapped mounting hole.

Environmental Conditions

The follower's sealing mechanism is critical. Open (unsealed) followers are suitable only for clean, well-lubricated environments. For environments with high levels of dust or moisture, sealed cam followers are essential to protect internal rolling elements. You must also consider mechanical environmental factors, such as vibration; in these applications, ensure all mounting hardware is properly secured using components like spring washers to prevent loosening.

Common Industry Applications

• Discrete Manufacturing and Assembly Lines: Cam followers are fundamental in transfer-line conveyors, indexing tables, and tool changers, guiding components accurately for high-speed efficiency.
• Automation and Robotics: Used in robotic arm joints and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), cam followers ensure precise linear movement and positioning.
• Facilities and Intralogistics: In material handling systems, such as palletisers and sorters, cam followers support and guide heavy loads, enabling reliable, continuous operation.
• Industrial Equipment: Essential for high-load, high-precision performance in heavy-duty equipment, including metal processing machinery, industrial presses, and cranes.

The Leading Supplier and Distributor of Cam Followers in Australia

RS is your trusted partner for high-performance cam followers in Australia. We stock a comprehensive range from leading global manufacturers such as SKF, INA, and NTN. Our selection covers numerous types, materials, and load capacities at competitive prices, ensuring you can source the ideal cam follower bearing for your specific mechanical application.

We also provide a wide array of other essential motion control components, including needle roller bearings, bearing units, and linear guides, to complete your mechanical assemblies. Purchase your stud type cam followers, yoke cam rollers, heavy duty cam followers, or stainless steel variants online today. For complete details on our ordering options, Australia-wide delivery services, and shipping information, please visit our delivery page.