Buy Cam Followers Online in Australia
Cam Follower Selection — Quick Reference (Track Rollers)
Cam followers (track rollers / needle roller cam followers) = HEAVY-DUTY rolling components running on CAM SURFACES + TRACKS + GUIDE rails. Stud-mounted version + yoke-mounted version. Machinery automation + conveyor + cam mechanisms.
| Cam Follower Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| Stud-Mounted Cam Follower | Single-bolt mount + cantilever |
| Yoke-Mounted Track Roller | Through-bolt + supported both sides |
| Standard (Concentric) Stud | Direct-load applications — fixed centre |
| Eccentric Stud | Eccentric collar provides ±0.5–1.5 mm shaft offset for misalignment / wear take-up |
| Crowned OD (Convex) | Curved track / wear compensation |
| Cylindrical OD (Straight) | Flat track / sliding surface |
| Sealed (2RS) / Open | Contamination resistance |
| Standard Series (CF / KR) | ISO sizes — IKO + INA + similar brands |
Critical: Match OD profile (crowned vs cylindrical) to TRACK SURFACE. Stud-mounted = simple install + cantilever; yoke-mounted = higher load + supported. Pre-lubricate where possible. Brands: IKO, SKF. Companion: bearings, needle roller bearings, IKO.
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.
Standard vs Eccentric Cam Followers
Stud-type cam followers come in two stud variants — standard (concentric) where the stud and the roller share a single centreline, and eccentric where an integrated eccentric collar lets the installer rotate the stud to offset the roller position by a small amount (typically ±0.5 to 1.5 mm depending on the size). Pick by what the application is asking the cam follower to do:
- Standard (concentric) cam followers are the default for direct-load applications — cam linkages, indexing mechanisms, conveyor support rollers and any installation where the track and the follower are aligned by the machine frame. Easy to install, no setup adjustment, sized purely by load and stud diameter.
- Eccentric cam followers are the right choice where you need to take up shaft-misalignment slack between pairs of followers, compensate for stack-up tolerances on a fabricated guide rail, or set running clearance on a pair of guide-rail followers running either side of a track. The eccentric collar is rotated at install to dial the roller into the track, then locked off — same principle as setting a cam-follower differential on a fork-lift mast or paired adjustable guide rollers on a linear gantry. Pair eccentric followers with one or two concentric units on the same rail for a self-clearance-adjusting set.
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. Both concentric and eccentric stud variants available — see the standard-vs-eccentric section above for selection guidance.
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 cam follower for your application.
As a proudly Australian business since 1988, we stock locally and work with trusted distributors to ensure fast, reliable supply.
See our full bearings range including ball bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, and needle roller bearings.
People Also Ask — Cam Followers
Q: What's a cam follower?
A cam follower is a specialised needle roller bearing with a thick-walled outer race designed to take direct load from a cam, track, or wear surface. Used in cam mechanisms, indexing tables, sliding doors, conveyor systems, and any application where a bearing rolls along a track or follows a cam profile. Available as stud type (threaded shaft) and yoke type (clevis-style mount). The outer race is hardened and ground for direct rolling contact.
Q: Stud type or yoke type cam follower?
Stud type: integrated threaded stud — mounts in a hole with a nut. Best for cam mechanisms, single-direction loading, and easy replacement. Yoke type: clevis-style mount with a separate pin through the bore — mounts in a yoke or clevis bracket. Best for support roller applications, linear tracks, and where the follower needs to be supported from both sides. Both perform the same rolling function — choice depends on mount design.
Q: Crowned or flat outer race?
Flat (cylindrical) outer race: lowest rolling friction, used where the track is also flat. Crowned (slightly convex) outer race: tolerates a small amount of misalignment between follower and track without edge-loading. For applications where the track may not be perfectly parallel to the follower mount, crowned race is more forgiving. Most workshop and machinery applications use crowned race as standard.
Q: How do I size a cam follower?
Three dimensions: outer diameter (the rolling surface), stud or bore diameter (the mounting interface), and width. Then check load rating against your application load. Cam followers come in metric and imperial series — check the spec sheet for dynamic load rating (rolling service) and static load rating (stationary or shock load). Apply a service factor for shock or impact loading.
Q: What brands does AIMS stock?
AIMS stocks cam followers from major bearing manufacturers including IKO, Koyo, NSK, and INA, plus general-industrial brands. IKO is widely regarded as the cam follower specialist with the most comprehensive range. For replacements, match the original brand part number where available — dimensions are standardised within each series but cage design and clearance class can vary between brands.