Editing Cam (mechanism) (section)

== Linear cam ==
A linear cam is one in which the cam element moves in a straight line rather than rotates. The cam element is often a plate or block but may be any cross-section.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7380478|title=Linear cam mechanical interlock}}</ref> The key feature is that the input is a linear motion rather than rotational. The cam profile may be cut into one or more edges of a plate or block, may be one or more slots or grooves in the face of an element, or may even be a surface profile for a cam with more than one input. The development of a linear cam is similar to, but not identical to, that of a rotating cam.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=29 August 2013|url=http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Inventor/enu/2012/Help/0073-Autodesk73/0742-Engineer742/0915-Transmis915/0992-Cam_Gene992/0993-Calculat993|title=Calculation equations:cams}}</ref>

[[File:Copiadora llaves.jpg|thumb|[[Key duplication|Key duplicating]] machine. The original key (mounted in the left-hand holder) acts as a linear cam to control the cut depth for the duplicate.]]
A common example of a linear cam is a key for a [[pin tumbler lock]]. The pins act as followers. This behavior is exemplified when the key is duplicated in a key duplication machine, where the original key acts as a control cam for cutting the new key.