Cam design and analysis programs

For 35 years, cam design programs at Andrews Products have been an ongoing development effort. Programs were originally written in Fortran and "C" for DOS based computers.

Beginning in 2007, Andrews Products cam programs were developed for Windows platforms including XP, Vista and Windows 7.

All programs have full windows graphical output capability and make it possible for even new users to rapidly design quality cam lobes or analyze previously generated cam lift data for a variety of camshaft applications and output formats.

The following features are included in all of the programs:

1. Inch or metric units (one click changeover)
2. Create PDF output files - for Internet use or graphical printouts
3. Save all input data for archival purposes and future retrieval
4. Direct graphical comparison of two different lift curves - one key stroke
5. Work speed output for cam grinders that can use variable work speeds
6. Unlimited storage of program input files (limited only by disc storage space)
7. All lobe design input data can be saved for archival purposes and future retrieval
8. For all rocking table camshaft grinders, master data can be calculated as an available output file

All cam design programs: D4camw, D45camW and Swingd4W enable users to examine many different designs in a short time - 5 minutes or less per design. New cam designs can be developed very quickly.

Available ramps include: Constant velocity, uniformly accelerated, constant jerk or no ramps. Data output options include all manufacturing and inspection data including open and close lift files, Landis files, Phillips files, Adcole files and G code data for various CNC lathes and milling machines.

Smooth4W (Cam Data Analysis Program)

Smooth4W is an analysis program using existing cam lobe lift data files.

Program input can be raw measured data from a cam inspection machine or design data from another cam design program. Data can be imported directly from ASCII file data in one degree increments.

Smooth4W can also import valve lift data (not cam lift) and convert it to cam output. If you have a valve lift curve and need to generate data for manufacturing a cam lobe to produce correct finger follower valve motion for your engine, Smooth4W can do it.

Smooth4W Features:

1. Lengthen (or reduce) duration 2 degrees at a time (1 degree on each end of data)
2. Raise (or lower) maximum lift by adding or subtracting lift from original design
3. From a valve lift curve, cam lobe designs can be calculated for finger follower lobes
4. Reverse engineer and smooth a given lobe design for future use
5. Generate all manufacturing and inspection files for cam lobes
6. Ramp smoothing can be applied to rough inspection data
7. Smooth rough data over the entire 360 degrees
8. Smooth selected angular lengths a lobe data set
9. Graphical comparison of any two lobe lift curves
10. PDF output of screen graphic for emails to others
11. Generate Landis work speed files
12. Save all data for future reference
13. Read Cam Doctor C1 files

Sample image of main graphic screen for Smooth4W

D4camW (Cam Lobe Design Program)

D4camW is a very flexible program for designing cam lobes with either roller or flat followers. One unique feature is that event durations can be held constant while other inputs are varied so many final lobe designs can be easily compared.

1. Inch or metric units (one click to change units)
2. Create PDF graphic files - for sending emails or output to printer
3. Finished lobe designs can be easily saved to archives for future retrieval
4. Save all cam lobe design files (limited only by available hard disc space)
5. One keystroke - compare differences of two different lift curves on screen
6. Work speed output for cam grinders with variable work speed capability
7. Master cam calculations and data output for rocking table cam grinder masters
8. Phillips files, Adcole files and G code data for various CNC lathes and milling machines

Three cam lobe design programs: D4camw, D45camW and Swingd4W enable users to examine many different designs in a very short time - 10 minutes or less per design; development of new designs is very fast. Available ramps include: constant velocity, uniformly accelerated, constant jerk or no ramps. Data output options include open - close files, manufacturing and inspection data. Complete graphic screen images (in color) can be sent to any laser or inkjet printer with one click.

D4camW - polynomial curve fit techniques for generating cam data for flat or roller followers. Shown above is a typical screen output from D4camW.

D45camW (Cam Design Program)

With this program, translating follower roller cam lobes can be designed with very short event lengths without negative radii of curvature on open or closing flanks – (no negative flanks).

1. Inch or metric units (one click to change units)
2. Create PDF output files - for email transmission or easy printing
3. Save all input data for archival purposes and future retrieval
4. One keystroke - compare and view two different lift curves on screen
5. Work speed output for cam grinders (that use variable work speeds)
6. Store program design input files (limited only by available hard disc space)
7. Master cam calculation and data output for rocking table cam grinders
8. Phillips files, Adcole files and G code data for various CNC lathes and milling machines

Three cam lobe design programs: D4camw, D45camW and Swingd4W enable users to examine many different designs in a very short time - 10 minutes or less per design; development of new designs can be very fast. Available ramps include: Constant velocity, uniformly accelerated, constant jerk or no ramps. Data output options include open - close files and all manufacturing and inspection data. Complete graphic screen images (in color) can be sent to any laser or inkjet printer with one click.

Sample graphic screen image for D45camW

Swingd4W (Cam Design Program)

This program was specifically developed for cam and valve gear systems with oscillating arm followers. Such systems are variously known as finger follower designs or cam-on-rocker arm systems.

Swingd4W also accounts for all of the different possible valve gear layouts:

• Left or right rocker pivot location
• Rocker pivot located at center or end of rocker arm
• Clockwise or counter clockwise camshaft rotation

Depending on the direction of rotation and pivot position, program correctly orients ramps for open and close sides of the data output. Swingd4W has many of the same outputs and features as shown with D4camW and D45camW.

For rocking table camshaft grinders, master cam data is also easily calculated.

To use this program, all geometric dimensions for engine valve gear must be known (as defined in program documentation).

Sample graphic screen image for SwingD4W

Interested in learning more about our cam design? Contact us today!