A cam is a mechanical element: a rotating or sliding piece with a specifically shaped profile (the cam contour) that converts continuous rotational motion into a prescribed reciprocating or oscillating motion in a mating follower. Its operation is governed by the geometric relationship between the cam surface and the follower, as specified in engineering drawings, manufacturing tolerances, and mechanical design manuals.\n\n[formal: cam | substrate: matter | horizon: hours | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
cam
A cam is a mechanical element: a rotating or sliding piece with a specifically shaped profile (the cam contour) that converts continuous rotational motion into a prescribed reciprocating or oscillating motion in a mating follower. Its oper…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made mechanical element: a rotating or sliding piece with an irregular contour (the cam profile), designed to convert continuous rotational motion into a prescribed reciprocating or oscillating motion in a mating follower. The concept is built to persist through engineering design, manufacturing specifications, and technical teaching — the map of how shape controls motion.
Names and aliases
- camen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrv95hcn00ej2ceiyhbz89dxINSTANCE_OF →
A cam is a specific type of mechanism — a rotating or sliding piece that imparts motion to another part via direct contact. Per Law 9: a competent speaker calls a cam 'a mechanism'. Corrects the previously struck DEPENDS_ON (Law 9, Law 11d).
- cmso2hzta00efjlssb5hfto9tINSTANCE_OF →
A cam IS a specific type of machine element — a rotating mechanical component with a specific function (converting rotational to linear/oscillatory motion) within a larger mechanism. Per Law 9: a competent engineer would classify a cam as a machine element. This replaces the rejected simple-machine classification; machine-element is the correct nearest kind. Law 3a: the kingdom has no bottom — machine-element is a valid construct.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Aug 11, 2026, 2:01 AM UTC
- Content hash
- bb16223fdefb3c9ee11e35def8966c0abd19fb5f7e9200d39fee1a752e22b145