I'd like to know if there is any way to create a cam as a feature that has it's radius driven by a graph or relation. If this is not possible then what's the best way to create a CAM with Catia V5
Hi mjcole
First of all what version of V5 are you using? I ask this as the later the version then the more you get out of it.
If the cam event behavior can be defined as a graph then use the LAW function or tool. If the X-axis of your graph is used as the Reference Curve and the plotted curve selected as the Definition Curve then you have a law which can be used to describe the cam profile with respect to a base circle - in effect the straight line becomes the circle and the graph is wrapped around it.
This is done using a PARALLEL CURVE but instead of using the default Constant option use the Law which is underneath it. Select the circle and then the LAW from the specification tree. The Support is a default plane.
As Catia will not enable this to happen on a closed curve simply cut the operation into two parts and place the split somewhere convenient such as a dwell area. The split section can be really small, it doesn't matter as long as the circle is not a closed curve.
There are other interesting methods using VBA macros but you should get what you need from the above - if required a sample V5R9 model can be emailed for you to try.
Cheers, Dave
