Wexmar provides custom cam machining for packaging machines, indexers, automation equipment and mechanisms that convert rotation into a timed motion. Our Canastota, New York shop produces CNC machined cams, including plate cams, groove cams, barrel cams and cylindrical cams, on 4-axis horizontal machining centers and CNC lathes. We machine the profile from your drawing or CAD model and verify it on our CMMs. Every quote is reviewed by a human estimator.
What cams do and who buys them
A cam drives a follower through a defined displacement curve. Profile error shows up as vibration, noise, follower wear and timing drift, so the cam profile and its relation to the bore and keyway matter as much as any size. Typical buyers include:
- Packaging, assembly and automation machine builders
- Industrial OEMs building indexers, feeders and valve actuators
- Maintenance buyers replacing worn or obsolete cams
- Defense and government programs with build-to-print mechanisms
How our custom cam machining works
Plate and groove cams on horizontal machining centers
Plate cams, face groove cams and conjugate cams are milled on our Mazak horizontal machining centers. The cam profile is contoured from a CAD model or a displacement table converted to a tool path, using finishing passes with consistent step-over and climb milling to hold profile accuracy and finish. The bore and keyway are machined in the same setup as the profile, so timing is tied directly to the shaft. See CNC milling.
Barrel and cylindrical cams with the 4th axis
Barrel cams and cylindrical groove cams are cut with 4th-axis rotary milling, where the part rotates while the tool follows the track. This produces helical and dwell tracks for indexers and reciprocating mechanisms on our 4-axis horizontal machines.
Turning cam bodies
Round cam blanks, hubs and cylindrical bodies are turned first on our Mazak and Doosan lathes, finishing the bore and faces in one chucking to set the datums for milling. See CNC turning.
Typical cam materials
- 4140, 4340 and similar alloy steels, often hardened after machining
- Tool steels for high-wear tracks, heat treated through qualified outside processors
- 17-4 PH and 400-series stainless for corrosion resistance with hardness
- 6061 and 7075 aluminum for light-duty and prototype cams
- Bronze and engineered plastics for low-noise or low-load cams
Critical cam features and how we hold them
- Profile accuracy: contoured from the model and checked by CMM scan against nominal.
- Profile timing to keyway: the profile, bore and keyway are cut in one setup from the same datum.
- Track width: on groove cams, width is held to fit the follower roller without backlash.
- Bore fit and face perpendicularity: turned or bored to the shaft fit, with faces square to the bore.
- Profile finish: finishing passes are planned to minimize tool marks that followers would feel.
Typical tolerances and finishes
| Feature | Typical tolerance | Tighter on request |
|---|---|---|
| Profile deviation from nominal | +/-0.002 in | +/-0.001 in |
| Groove track width | +/-0.001 in | +0.0005 / -0.000 in |
| Bore diameter | +/-0.0005 in | +/-0.0003 in |
| Profile timing to keyway | +/-0.1 deg | +/-0.05 deg |
| Face perpendicularity to bore | 0.001 in | 0.0005 in |
| Profile surface finish | 63 Ra | 32 Ra |
Values are typical for machined cams in the soft condition. Hardened cams move during heat treat, and the quote states what will be held after hardening.
Design notes
A complete CAD model or a displacement table with follower size and base circle removes interpretation from the profile. Specify the follower roller diameter on groove cams so track width and corner radii suit it. If the cam will be hardened, decide whether the profile is finished before heat treat and accepted as is, or left with stock for grinding after hardening. For replacements, a drawing is far more reliable than a worn sample, but we can discuss reverse engineering open profiles.
Secondary operations
Through hardening, case hardening, induction hardening, nitriding, black oxide and plating are completed through qualified outside processors. Profile grinding after heat treat is also arranged through qualified outside processors when the drawing requires it.
Quantity patterns
Cams are usually ordered in sets for a machine build, from one to a few dozen pieces, with repeat orders for spares. Programs and fixtures are retained so replacement cams match the originals. Related parts include levers, links and clevises.
Inspection
Cam profiles are verified by scanning on our Brown and Sharpe CMMs and compared to nominal, with bore, keyway and timing checked in the same program. FAI in AS9102 format, CMM reports and material certs are available.
Getting a quote
Send the drawing and CAD model, material, hardness and quantity. You can upload a drawing for an instant estimate in PDF or STEP, and an estimator will confirm price and lead time. Call (315) 400-2654 to discuss a cam.