Cam Followers

Cam Followers — Track Rollers & Needle Roller Cam Followers

Cam followers (track rollers) are precision roller bearings designed to run on cam tracks, guide rails, and linear surfaces — carrying radial loads from external surfaces rather than shafts. AIMS Industrial stocks cam followers from IKO and Koyo — stud-type needle cam followers, yoke-type track rollers, and heavy-duty cam followers for cam mechanisms, linear guides, and conveyor applications.

Cam Followers We Stock

Stud-Type Needle Cam Followers — IKO CF & Koyo CF Series

Stud-type cam followers mount via a threaded stud and carry high radial loads from external cam surfaces — the most common cam follower type for linkage mechanisms, camshaft-driven actuators, and indexing systems. IKO CF series and Koyo CF series are stocked across standard metric stud diameters, available in sealed and open variants.

Yoke-Type Track Rollers — IKO CRH Series

IKO CRH series yoke-type track rollers use a full complement cylindrical roller design for applications where the roller runs on a guide rail or flat track — used in linear motion systems, door guides, and conveyor track applications requiring precise roller positioning and high load capacity.

Heavy-Duty Stud Cam Followers

Heavy-duty stud-type cam followers for high-load applications — forklift mast channels, heavy conveyor tracks, and industrial automation equipment subject to impact and shock loading. IKO and Koyo heavy series cam followers feature thicker outer rings and full complement needle roller complements for maximum load rating.

Sealed Cam Followers

IKO and Koyo sealed cam followers with integrated rubber seals for contaminated environments including coolant exposure, metal swarf, and grit. Sealed cam followers retain factory-fill grease and exclude contamination — extending service life in conveyor, machine tool, and outdoor equipment applications.

Cam Follower Selection Guide

Contact Stress on Cam Track

Cam followers run on hardened cam tracks — ensure the cam track material and hardness are matched to the cam follower dynamic load rating. Unhardened or too-soft track surfaces will deform under cam follower contact load, leading to premature wear and erratic motion. Minimum track hardness of 58 HRC is recommended for needle roller cam followers under full load.

Stud Type vs Yoke Type

• Stud type (CF series) — mounts via threaded stud, compact and easy to install, suited to cam mechanisms and linkages
• Yoke type (CRH series) — mounts via inner ring bore, higher load capacity, preferred for guide rail and track roller applications

Preload for Precision Applications

In precision cam mechanisms, cam followers are installed with a light preload (no internal clearance) to eliminate positional error. IKO and Koyo offer cam followers with reduced internal clearance for precision indexing applications where positional accuracy is critical.

Sealing for Contaminated Environments

Standard cam followers have light seals suitable for clean environments. For applications with metal swarf, coolant, or grit exposure, select IKO or Koyo sealed cam followers rated for the specific contamination type. Confirm the seal type (rubber contact vs labyrinth) against the operating environment.

Expert Support: Contact our team or request a quote — we’ll help size and specify the right valve for your pipeline and fluid handling requirements.

As a proudly Australian business since 1988, we stock locally and work with trusted distributors to ensure fast, reliable supply.

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