What is CAM Profiling?

Basic CAM profiling uses an incoming encoder stream to create the lookup index for a table of pre-stored command positions. Many CAMs are encoded in a rotating frame with the last lookup value wrapping around to the first. The encoded values are usually interpreted as desired absolute command positions, but can also be interpreted as relative moves if so specified. The encoded table generally provides linear or spline interpolation between points to smooth the output commanded profile and to reduce the number of stored points needed.

For initialization during startup there is typically a physical signal which starts CAM lookup, after which position lookup and end-of-table wrapping continues automatically. Multiple CAM controllers driven by the same encoder data stream (often encoding the location of an incoming feed stock or conveyer belt) are common. This allows multiple processes to operate on the same feedstock simultaneously while staying fully synchronized with each other.