DA Cam Driven Indexers

Cam driven indexers are a type of mechanical indexing mechanism that use a cam profile to convert continuous rotary motion into precise, incremental rotary motion. Cam Driven Indexers are a type of cam-operated indexing mechanism used to precisely control the rotational position of a shaft or output member.
Ultrathin Table Model Cam Indexers, are commonly used in applications that require accurate, repeatable positioning of a component, such as in packaging machinery, assembly lines, and robotic systems.

Technical Deep Dive into TechMan Automation DA Cam Driven Indexers

A cam-driven indexer converts continuous rotary input from a motor into precise, intermittent output rotation. A hardened conjugate cam profile engages two or more rollers mounted on a turret or dial plate. As the cam rotates, each roller enters the cam track, displaces the output shaft by a fixed angular increment, then dwells at zero velocity while the cam completes its cycle. The conjugate profile eliminates backlash by maintaining dual roller contact throughout motion.

The table below delivers DA Cam Driven Indexers with images and full specification coverage.

DA Cam Driven Indexers/ Ultrathin Table Cam Indexer Series

 Basic Parameters of DA Cam Driven Indexers/ Ultrathin Table Cam Indexer Series

Key Components of a cam indexing drive include:

Cam: A specially shaped rotating component that converts the continuous rotary motion into the desired indexed motion.
Follower: A component that rides along the surface of the cam, translating the cam’s motion into the output motion.
Index Plate: A stationary component that provides the precise positioning and locking of the output shaft during each index cycle.
Drive Mechanism: The system that provides the continuous rotary input motion to the cam, typically using a motor, gearbox, or other power transmission components.

Industrial applications with DA Cam Driven Indexers/ Ultrathin Table Cam Indexer

Semiconductor: Wafer die bonding — 6-station epitaxial substrate indexer

A DA ultrathin cam indexer steps a 6-station epitaxial substrate carrier through die attach, cure, wire bond, and optical inspection inside a Class 5 cleanroom. The DA table body measures 48 mm total axial height — including the integrated crossed-roller bearing — fitting within the 60 mm vertical clearance between the process deck and the granite base slab. A standard DT table indexer at 140 mm axial depth would require a 92 mm recess machined into the granite, adding six weeks of lead time and invalidating the base vibration qualification. The 95 mm diameter through-bore routes vacuum lines, thermocouple cables, and a fibre-optic bundle from the base plenum to each substrate chuck without external festoons. Total output inertia of 0.31 kg·m² indexes at 90 input RPM with a 252°/108° dwell ratio, holding each substrate stationary for 1.8 seconds at ±5 arc-second repeatability — positioning the die pad within ±0.004 mm of the bond head focal axis.

Optics & Photonics:Lens coating carousel — 5-station PVD deposition indexer

A DA ultrathin cam indexer rotates a 5-station optical lens fixture carousel inside a physical vapour deposition (PVD) vacuum chamber operating at 4 × 10⁻⁴ Pa. The DA unit’s total axial height of 52 mm allows the carousel to fit within the 70 mm vertical clearance between the chamber floor flange and the deposition source shield without modifying the chamber vessel. The DA operates in a dry-running configuration — all rolling contact surfaces treated with MoS₂ solid film lubricant rated to 10⁻⁵ Pa vacuum compatibility, replacing the standard oil bath that would outgas inside the chamber. Each lens fixture weighs 0.42 kg at 160 mm radius; total output inertia is 0.054 kg·m². The indexer steps at 12 input RPM with a 300°/60° dwell ratio, holding each lens in the deposition flux for 6.25 seconds per station to achieve a 142 nm quarter-wave optical coating layer within ±2 nm thickness tolerance across the lens aperture.

FAQs about Cam Driven Indexer

• What is the difference between a barrel cam and a globoidal cam indexer?

        A barrel cam has a cylindrical body with a machined helical groove; rollers sit radially on a turret plate. A globoidal cam has a tapered, hour-glass profile; rollers sit on a face plate. Globoidal designs handle higher radial loads and deliver smoother modified sine motion profiles at faster cycle rates.

• What motion profile does a standard cam indexer follow?

       Most cam indexers use a modified sine or modified constant-velocity profile. These profiles minimize peak acceleration and jerk compared to simple harmonic or cycloidal curves. Lower peak acceleration reduces dynamic bearing loads, extends roller life, and allows higher input speeds at the same torque rating.

• What causes premature roller wear in a cam indexer?

      Three factors drive early roller failure: overloading beyond the rated dynamic torque, insufficient lubrication film at the cam-roller contact zone, and misalignment between the input shaft and the driven dial plate. Shock loading from upstream or downstream machine jams also introduces impact forces that crack roller needle bearings.

• How does station count affect cam indexer performance?

        More stations reduce the angular increment per index step, which lowers peak roller force at the same input speed. However, more stations also increase the overall dial plate diameter for a given nest pitch, raising rotational inertia. Engineers balance station count, dial diameter, and cycle rate to stay within the torque envelope.

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