On the direct control of follower vibrations in cam-follower mechanisms

This paper addresses a preliminary study on the control of follower vibrations in cam-follower mechanisms when acting directly onto the follower. Due to the elasticity of the mechanical components, the follower motion is affected by undesired dynamics, which may compromise its accuracy. Different techniques are commonly used to reduce such undesired vibrations, but they approach the problem in an indirect way. The aim of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of controlling follower motion by applying a secondary force directly onto it. As far as the authors are aware, there is not a clear indication in literature of why such a direct control has not been considered by researchers so far. This paper would thus like to address the limitations of such a control approach giving the reader a general and broader view on this issue. Simple active and passive control strategies are investigated and compared. Simulations are performed based on 'purely mechanical' considerations only and these bring, alone, to draw some important conclusion about their effectiveness or practical feasibility. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.