Camshaft

A rotating shaft with shaped projections called cams that convert rotation into timed movement. In piston engines, it opens and closes valves in coordination with the crankshaft.

Cam lobe: A shaped projection on a camshaft that pushes a follower as the shaft rotates. Its profile sets a valve’s lift, opening duration, and motion.
Crankshaft: A rotating shaft that converts piston motion into rotary output in a reciprocating engine. Its rotation is synchronized with the camshaft to coordinate pistons and valves.
Overhead camshaft: A camshaft mounted in the cylinder head, above the engine’s valves. It is a common layout that shortens the path from cam lobes to valves.
Camshaft position sensor: A sensor that reports the camshaft’s angular position to an engine control system. Its signal helps control fuel injection, ignition, and variable valve timing.
Valve train: The assembly of components that transfers motion to engine valves and controls their operation. The camshaft is the valve train’s motion source in many engines.
Four-stroke engine: An internal-combustion engine cycle with intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes. Its valve events require camshaft timing across two crankshaft revolutions.
Overhead valve engine: An engine with valves in the cylinder head operated by pushrods from a camshaft in the block. Its camshaft sits lower than in an overhead-camshaft design.
Rotary engine: An internal-combustion engine that uses a rotor instead of reciprocating pistons. Many rotary engines control gas exchange with ports rather than camshaft-operated valves.
Cam follower: A component that tracks a cam’s surface and transfers its motion to another part. It carries each cam lobe’s movement toward the valve.
Intake valve: An engine valve that admits air or an air-fuel mixture into a cylinder. The camshaft opens it during the intake event.

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Stamp millRelated: Cams on the shaft lift stamps before gravity drives them down.