The follower is the reciprocating part of the cam and follower mechanism. There are different types of follower:
1. Oscillating or Rotating follower
This type of follower is what’s used in most applications. It can be rotated by a handle to adjust the position of the blade and thus control the speed of the motion. The oscillating action is caused by a small gear rotating inside the body of the follower, which causes it to move up and down as it moves through its stroke. Oscillating followers are used in the case of variable frequency drive where the driving power is obtained from a synchronous motor. The rotating shaft of the motor rotates at a fixed speed and has a gearbox that converts the rotation into the rotation of the output shaft. The speed of rotation of the output shaft depends on the frequency of operation of the motor. The gearbox contains a gear set having an outer ring gear and an inner pinion gear, which have different speeds of rotation. The outer ring gear meshes with an annular groove formed in an inner race of the outer race of an eccentric cam, which has an axis parallel to that of the outer race. It is this configuration that generates oscillation in the follower gear train, resulting in constant speed operation.
2. Translating or Reciprocating follower
This type of follower has a rigid body that reciprocates (or translates) freely along a fixed path within its housing. The fixed path is usually perpendicular to the direction of travel and is driven by an external mechanism (such as a piston) or an internal mechanism (such as an electrically powered motor). The reciprocating motion causes the piston or other mechanism within the housing to move back and forth, which in turn drives another component such as a gear or cogwheel within either one or both ends of the housing assembly; this in turn generates oscillation or rotational movement within one end of the housing assembly relative to another end (s).
3. Knife Edge Follower
A knife-edge follower is the most popular type of follower, and it’s probably the one you’re most familiar with. The blade sits between two small circular plates, which rotate around a centre pin. The blade is usually mounted on top of the plate and moves up or down as you move your mouse. In fact, it’s so common that it’s often used when there are no other available options.
4. Roller Follower
The roller follower rotates around a centre pin that rides on a flat track. It has a wider range of movement than other types, but it doesn’t have as much force feedback as some other types do. It’s also not as accurate because there are four balls instead of just two (with roller followers).
5. Flat Faced or Mushroom Follower
This is the cheapest type of follower. It has a flat face that you can see through, which makes it look like it’s floating in mid-air. It is also called a mushroom follower because of its shape.
6. Spherical Faced Follower
This type of follower has a spherical face with a hole in the middle so that it can move up and down easier than other types of followers. They are usually made from rubber and often have an inner core so they aren’t affected by gravity when they are at rest on your roof.
