DS Cam Indexing Drives

DS Cam Indexing Drives, also known as DS model Cam Indexing Tables, are a type of indexing drive with shaft output. These indexing drives allow for direct connection of gears, couplings, coupling discs, and conveyor belts to the shaft.  It utilizes a combination of roller gear cam and cam followers to achieve high speeds and accuracy, with input to output center distances ranging from 45 to 180 mm.

A DS cam indexing drive uses a single disc-type cam with a conjugate groove profile to convert continuous rotary input into precisely timed intermittent output rotation. The “DS” designation refers to the disc-and-shaft configuration, where the cam disc mounts directly on the input shaft and drives a set of roller-equipped output turret pins radially. During the dwell phase, the groove geometry locks the turret without a brake or clutch, achieving positional repeatability within ±10 arc-seconds.

Cam indexing drives play a pivotal role in modern industrial automation by providing precise, durable, and energy-efficient motion control solutions

Technical Profile: TallMan Robotics DS Cam Indexing Drives

Features

Shaft Output: The shaft output design permits easy integration with other mechanical components, ensuring smooth operation and high reliability.
Precision and Speed: By using a combination of roller gear cam and cam followers, these drives can achieve high speeds and precise indexing which is crucial in applications requiring exact positioning 2 .
Versatile Connectivity: They can connect directly with different mechanical components such as gears, couplings, and conveyor belts, providing a flexible solution to various industrial needs.

Examples

DS Series: This series is widely used and offers input to output center distances ranging from 45 to 180 mm, catering to diverse application requirements.
Rotary Indexing Tables assist with precise device indexing and are ideal for heavy industries like automotive manufacturing. They facilitate the movement of products and components with high accuracy.

By integrating DS Cam Indexing Drives, industries can achieve enhanced operational efficiency through reliable and precise motion control, essential for automated processes in manufacturing and assembly lines.

The table below arranges DS Cam Indexing Drives with corresponding images and full details.

DS Cam Indexers Shaft Output Cam Indexing Drives Series

DS Shaft Output Cam Indexing Drives — Industrial Application Cases

Automotive: Spark plug assembly — 8-station inline dial machine

A DS cam drive outputs to a 22 mm keyed shaft that couples directly to an aluminium 8-station dial plate assembling spark plug shells, insulators, and centre electrodes. The dial plate diameter is 600 mm with a total mounted load of 18 kg uniformly distributed, producing 1.6 kg·m² of output inertia — well within the DS unit’s rated capacity at 200 input RPM. The compact axial footprint of the DS housing fits within the 180 mm vertical column spacing of the existing machine frame without a structural rebuild. The shaft output eliminates the flange adapter plate required by a DF unit, reducing part count by four fasteners and one machined spacer per machine build.

8 stations / 45° index                          Input: 200 RPM                      Output inertia: 1.6 kg·m²               Dwell ratio: 210°/150°

Packaging: Blister pack forming — 6-station thermoform indexer

A DS cam drive shaft connects to a 6-station thermoforming dial that steps a PVC web through form, fill, and seal stations. The web tension applies a consistent 180 N tangential load at 95 mm shaft radius — producing 17.1 N·m of steady-state output torque well within the DS unit’s rated continuous output. Input speed runs at 250 RPM with a 180°/180° dwell-to-index ratio, yielding 125 blister cycles per minute. The shaft output configuration allows the DS housing to mount in a horizontal inline orientation, feeding directly into the downstream sealing roller without an angular gearbox between the indexer and the web drive nip point.

6 stations / 60° index                         Input: 250 RPM                       Web tension load: 180 N               Output: 125 cycles/min

Food Processing: Condiment dosing — 8-station rotary fill table

A food-grade sealed DS cam drive steps an 8-station stainless-steel fill table under eight volumetric piston dosing heads dispensing viscous sauce at 200 indexes per minute. The table carries 330 ml glass jars at 160 mm shaft radius; fully loaded jar mass per station is 0.52 kg, giving 4.4 kg·m² total output inertia including the table. The DS unit runs at 400 RPM — its rated maximum — with a 180°/180° dwell ratio to maximise dwell time for nozzle insertion and retraction. H1-rated food-grade grease packing and a stainless output shaft extension meet 3-A Sanitary Standard requirements, with the housing profile allowing full CIP spray coverage without pooling.

8 stations / 45° index                        Input: 400 RPM                         Output inertia: 4.4 kg·m²                H1 food-grade grease

Cosmetics: Lipstick moulding — 10-station fill and cool carousel

A DS cam drive steps a 10-station aluminium carousel through molten lipstick fill, nitrogen quench, and demould stations at 150 input RPM. The carousel carries temperature-controlled copper moulds at 220 mm radius; total carousel inertia is 3.1 kg·m². A 270°/90° dwell-to-index ratio holds each mould under the nitrogen quench nozzle for 3.0 seconds, achieving consistent lipstick crystal structure across the batch. The DS shaft output couples through a hollow rotary union on the output shaft end, allowing chilled water to circulate into the carousel hub for supplementary mould cooling without a secondary drive shaft penetration through the indexer housing.

10 stations / 36° index                       Input: 150 RPM                        Output inertia: 3.1 kg·m²                Dwell ratio: 270°/90°

FAQs about Cam Indexing Drives

• How does a DS cam differ from a DE cam indexing system?

       A DE cam uses dual-eccentric lobes on a single groove for lower dynamic loads and higher cycle rates up to 600 CPM. A DS cam uses a single disc groove, which simplifies manufacture and reduces unit cost, but limits maximum input speed to around 400 RPM and produces slightly higher peak acceleration forces at equivalent index angles.

• Does a DS cam indexing drive require an external brake to hold position?

       No. The conjugate disc groove mechanically locks the output turret pins during the full dwell phase. This self-locking action holds the output table rigid against process forces without any external brake, friction clutch, or powered detent. Removing the brake eliminates wear consumables and simplifies the machine control circuit.

• Can a DS cam drive operate in both clockwise and counterclockwise direction?

       Yes. The conjugate disc groove drives the output turret correctly in either input rotation direction. Reversing the input shaft does not damage the cam or roller followers. Confirm that the internal lubrication system — oil slinger, pump, or splash feed — delivers adequate flow to the cam groove in both rotation directions before reversing a production unit.

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