Mechanical question

[Steerpike]

Given the expertise on the forums -

Does a cam always have to cause longitudinal/linear motion in whatever it is engaging? Or, if you have a rotating mechanism with some piece that engages another component of a device and transfers motion, but that second component also just rotates, is it still a cam?

 

[CupofJoe]

I'd have to ask my dad...
does this [Simple Mechanics] help?

 

[Steerpike]

I'd have to ask my dad...
does this [Simple Mechanics] help?

Thank you, Sir. That does help, and it is kind of what I thought. I just wasn't sure what word to use when that action is between two rotating objects. I suppose it is more like a gear at that point, but the object doesn't look like a gear so that threw me. I won't use "cam," however. It looks pretty clear that a cam translates rotational movement to linear movement.