Cam vs. Crank — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 27, 2024
Cams convert rotational motion into linear motion, while cranks convert linear motion into rotational.
Difference Between Cam and Crank
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cams are mechanical devices designed to convert rotational motion into variable linear motion. They work through the direct contact of a cam profile with a follower. On the other hand, cranks are designed to convert linear motion into rotational motion or vice versa.
The shape of the cam determines the specific movement pattern of the follower. Cranks are fundamental components of many mechanical systems, including internal combustion engines and bicycles, where they transform the reciprocating motion of pistons into the rotational motion needed to drive the wheels.
Cams are used to produce specific patterns of linear motion from a rotating shaft, which can vary widely in complexity and purpose. In contrast, cranks provide a more straightforward conversion between linear and rotational motion.
Cams and cranks are both integral to mechanical engineering and design, serving different but often complementary functions. Cams offer complex motion control and variability, crucial for tasks requiring precise movements and timings. Cranks, however, excel in their ability to efficiently translate motion, making them key to the basic operation of many mechanical systems.
Comparison Chart
Motion Conversion
Converts rotational motion into variable linear motion
Converts linear motion into rotational motion and vice versa
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Functionality
Provides precise control over movement patterns
Translates motion directly between linear and rotational
Complexity
Can have complex shapes for specific motion patterns
Typically simpler in design
Application
Used in engines, automated machinery, and precision devices
Used in engines, bicycles, and basic machinery
Motion Pattern
Motion pattern determined by cam profile
Motion pattern determined by arm length and connection points
Compare with Definitions
Cam
A rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage.
The engine's cam opens and closes the valves at the exact right moments.
Crank
Used to convert linear motion into rotational motion.
The piston's up and down movement is turned into rotational motion by the crankshaft in the engine.
Cam
Can have complex shapes for specific movement patterns.
The cam's unique shape was designed to match the specific movement needed for the machine.
Crank
A lever arm attached at a right angle to a rotating shaft.
The crank converts the cyclist's pedaling force into motion that propels the bicycle forward.
Cam
Used in various mechanical devices for timing purposes.
The timer cam in the dishwasher controls the cycle durations.
Crank
Simple in design but essential for mechanical systems.
The crank mechanism is a fundamental part of the hand-operated winch.
Cam
Essential in precision machinery and automated systems.
High-speed packaging machines rely on cams for accurate timing and movement.
Crank
Found in a variety of machinery and engines.
Cranks are crucial for the operation of internal combustion engines.
Cam
A machine element that converts rotational motion into linear motion.
The cam in the sewing machine ensures the needle moves up and down precisely.
Crank
Allows for the direct translation of motion types.
The old-fashioned well uses a crank to wind the bucket up and down.
Cam
A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion. It is often a part of a rotating wheel (e.g.
Crank
Turn the crankshaft of (an internal combustion engine) in order to start the engine
The starter motor struggled to crank the engine
Move the pitch lever into the normal range and crank up the engine
Cam
A projection on a rotating part in machinery, designed to make sliding contact with another part while rotating and impart reciprocal or variable motion to it.
Crank
Give a bend to (a shaft, bar, etc.)
Paddle styles also vary—long, short, cranked, etc.
Cam
A camera.
Crank
Inject a narcotic drug
He's been cranking up on smack
Cam
A wheel that has a projecting part and is mounted on a rotating shaft to produce variable or reciprocating motion in another part.
Crank
A part of an axle or shaft bent out at right angles, for converting reciprocal to circular motion and vice versa
A long con rod which acts as a longer lever on the crank
Cam
Any of various similar devices having a rotating part of variable radius that interacts with another part to exert a variable force or resistance.
Crank
The drug methamphetamine.
Cam
A turning or sliding piece which imparts motion to a rod, lever or block brought into sliding or rolling contact with it.
Crank
An eccentric person, especially one who is obsessed by a particular subject
I am used to getting crank calls from conspiracy theorists
When he first started to air his views, they labelled him a crank
Cam
A curved wedge, movable about an axis, used for forcing or clamping two pieces together.
Crank
A fanciful turn of speech.
Cam
A ridge or mound of earth.
Crank
(of a sailing ship) liable to heel over.
Cam
(climbing) A spring-loaded camming device, a spring-loaded device for effecting a temporary belay in a rock crevice.
Crank
A device for transmitting rotary motion, consisting of a handle or arm attached at right angles to a shaft.
Cam
(informal) Camera.
Crank
A clever turn of speech; a verbal conceit
Quips and cranks.
Cam
To go on webcam with someone.
Crank
A peculiar or eccentric idea or action.
Cam
A turning or sliding piece which, by the shape of its periphery or face, or a groove in its surface, imparts variable or intermittent motion to, or receives such motion from, a rod, lever, or block brought into sliding or rolling contact with it.
Crank
A grouchy person.
Cam
A ridge or mound of earth.
Crank
An eccentric person, especially one who is unduly zealous.
Cam
Crooked.
Crank
(Slang) Methamphetamine.
Cam
A river in east central England that flows past Cambridge to join the Ouse River
Crank
To start or operate (an engine, for example) by or as if by turning a handle.
Cam
A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion
Crank
To move or operate (a window, for example) by or as if by turning a handle.
Crank
To make into the shape of a crank; bend.
Crank
To provide with a handle that is used in turning.
Crank
To turn a handle.
Crank
To wind in a zigzagging course.
Crank
Of, being, or produced by an eccentric person
A crank letter.
A crank phone call.
Crank
Liable to capsize; unstable.
Crank
(slang) Strange, weird, odd.
Crank
Sick; unwell.
Crank
Liable to capsize because of poorly stowed cargo or insufficient ballast.
Crank
Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated.
Crank
A bent piece of an axle or shaft, or an attached arm perpendicular, or nearly so, to the end of a shaft or wheel, used to impart a rotation to a wheel or other mechanical device; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion.
I grind my coffee by hand with a coffee grinder with a crank handle.
Crank
Clipping of crankshaft
Crank
The act of converting power into motion, by turning a crankshaft.
Yes, a crank was all it needed to start.
Give it a forceful crank.
Crank
(archaic) Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.
Crank
(informal) An ill-tempered or nasty person.
Billy-Bob is a nasty old crank! He chased my cat away.
Crank
A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim;
Crank
A fit of temper or passion.
Crank
A person who is considered strange or odd by others. They may behave in unconventional ways.
John is a crank because he talks to himself.
Crank
A baseball fan.
Crank
(informal) An amateur in science or other technical subjects who persistently advocates flawed theories
That crank next door thinks he’s created cold fusion in his garage.
Crank
Synonym of methamphetamine.
Danny got abscesses from shooting all that bathtub crank.
Crank
(rare) A twist or turn in speech; word play consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word.
Crank
(obsolete) A sick person; an invalid.
Crank
(transitive) To turn by means of a crank.
Motorists had to crank their engine by hand.
Crank
(intransitive) To turn a crank.
He's been cranking all day and yet it refuses to crank.
Crank
To turn.
He's been cranking all day and yet it refuses to crank.
Crank
(transitive) To cause to spin via other means, as though turned by a crank.
I turn the key and crank the engine; yet it doesn't turn over
Crank it up!
Crank
(intransitive) To act in a cranky manner; to behave unreasonably and irritably, especially through complaining.
Quit cranking about your spilt milk!
Crank
(intransitive) To be running at a high level of output or effort.
By one hour into the shift, the boys were really cranking.
Crank
To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn.
Crank
A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See Bell crank.
Crank
Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.
So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks.
Crank
A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word.
Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles.
Crank
A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion.
Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks.
Crank
A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter.
Crank
A sick person; an invalid.
Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater.
Crank
Sick; infirm.
Crank
Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail.
Crank
Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated.
He who was, a little before, bedrid, . . . was now crank and lusty.
If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it.
Crank
To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn.
See how this river comes me cranking in.
Crank
A bad-tempered person
Crank
A whimsically eccentric person
Crank
Amphetamine used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant
Crank
A hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel handle
Crank
Travel along a zigzag path;
The river zigzags through the countryside
Crank
Start by cranking;
Crank up the engine
Crank
Rotate with a crank
Crank
Fasten with a crank
Crank
Bend into the shape of a crank
Crank
(used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
Common Curiosities
What is a cam used for?
A cam is used to convert rotational motion into variable linear motion, enabling precise control over machinery movements.
How does a crank work?
A crank works by converting linear motion into rotational motion or vice versa, typically involving a rotating arm that translates movement between a shaft and a piston.
Do cams only produce linear motion?
Primarily, cams convert rotational motion into linear motion, but the specific pattern of movement can vary widely.
What is the principle behind a crank?
The principle behind a crank is the conversion of motion types, using a lever arm to translate linear movement into rotational movement and vice versa.
What makes cranks essential in engines?
Cranks are essential in engines for converting the reciprocating motion of pistons into the rotational motion needed to drive the wheels.
Is a cam or a crank more versatile?
Both are versatile in their applications, but cams offer more variability in motion control, while cranks excel in efficiently translating motion types.
Where are cams commonly found?
Cams are commonly found in engines, automated machinery, and devices requiring precise timing and movement patterns.
Can the shape of a cam be simple?
Yes, the shape of a cam can be simple for basic tasks, but it often has complex contours for specific motion patterns.
Are cranks used outside of engines?
Yes, cranks are used in a variety of applications outside of engines, including bicycles and mechanical winches.
Can cranks convert rotational motion to linear motion?
Yes, cranks can convert rotational motion to linear motion, particularly in configurations where the arm's movement drives a piston or similar component.
How does the design of a cam affect its function?
The design and shape of a cam directly affect its function by determining the pattern and precision of the linear motion it produces.
What role do cams play in automated systems?
In automated systems, cams play a crucial role in controlling timing and movement sequences with high precision.
What is the difference between cam and crank in terms of complexity?
Cams can have complex shapes for specific motion patterns, while cranks are typically simpler and more direct in their function.
Are cams and cranks found together in machinery?
Yes, cams and cranks can be found together in machinery, each serving different but complementary motion conversion functions.
How does a crankshaft relate to a crank?
A crankshaft is a type of crank that specifically converts the reciprocating motion of pistons into rotational motion in engines.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
