A swash plate cam is usually a disc that rotates around a shaft. The disc is set at an angle so that the follower moves up and down as the disc rotates.

The example below shows how two followers can be used resting on the same swash plate cam. Each follower has a wheel or roller that allows smooth movement.

The mechanical display below is a dancing puppet. As the swash plate cam rotates the two roller followers rise and fall. This motion makes the puppet look as if it is dancing / waving its arms. The cam mechanism would normally be ‘boxed in’ for safety reasons. However, on the drawing below the front has been removed so that the mechanism can be clearly seen.

QUESTIONS:
1. How could the flat swash plate cam be modified to produce an even more interesting movement of the followers? Draw a diagram and add explanatory notes.
2. A piece of rectangular transparent perspex is used to cover the front of the mechanism - for safety reasons. This means that young children are not able to ‘trap’ their fingers in the mechanism. Draw a diagram(s) to show how the perspex is fixed in position. It must be possible to remove the cover for lubricating the mechanism but only if appropriate tools are used.