
Chapter 10 Electronic Gearing and Camming
NI-Motion User Manual 10-8 ni.com
CammingElectronic camming operates similarly to electronic gearing in that the 
move distance of an axis is proportional to the move distance of its master 
device. Camming differs from gearing in how the master/slave ratio is 
handled by the motion controller. Gearing is used in applications where a 
constant gear value creates a linear slave position profile, as shown in 
Figure 10-5. 
Figure 10-5.  Master/Slave Ratio in Gearing
Camming creates a more flexible profile by using more master/slave ratios. 
These ratios are handled automatically by the motion controller, allowing 
precise switching of the gear ratios, as shown in Figure10-6. Camm ing is 
used in applications where the slave axis follows a non-linear profile from 
a master device. 
Slave
Master
∆ Master
Gear ratio = ∆ Slave/∆ Maste
r
∆ Slave