I-camshaft iyingxenye yenjini ye-piston. Umsebenzi wayo ukulawula ukuvulwa nokuvalwa kwe-valve. Nakuba i-camshaft ijikeleza ngesigamu sejubane le-crankshaft enjinini enezigameko ezine (i-camshaft ijikeleza ngesivinini esifanayo ne-crankshaft enjinini enezigameko ezimbili), i-camshaft ivame ukujikeleza ngesivinini esikhulu futhi idinga i-torque eningi. Ngakho-ke, ukwakheka kwe-camshaft kudinga amandla aphezulu nezidingo zokusekela. Ngokuvamile yenziwe ngensimbi ye-alloy noma ye-alloy esezingeni eliphezulu. Ukwakheka kwe-camshaft kudlala indima ebaluleke kakhulu ekwakhiweni kwenjini ngoba umthetho wokunyakaza kwe-valve uhlobene nezici zamandla nokusebenza kwenjini.
I-camshaft ibhekana nemithwalo yokuphazamiseka ngezikhathi ezithile. Ukucindezeleka kokuxhumana phakathi kwe-CAM ne-turtet kukhulu kakhulu, futhi isivinini sokushelela siphezulu kakhulu, ngakho-ke ukuguguleka kwendawo yokusebenza ye-CAM kubi kakhulu. Ngenxa yalesi simo, ijenali ye-camshaft kanye nendawo yokusebenza ye-CAM kufanele kube nokunemba okuphezulu, ubulukhuni obuncane bendawo kanye nokuqina okwanele, kodwa futhi kufanele kube nokumelana okuphezulu kokuguguleka kanye nokuthambisa okuhle.
Ama-camshaft ngokuvamile akhiwa ngensimbi yekhabhoni noma ye-alloy esezingeni eliphezulu, kodwa angaphinde afakwe ngensimbi ye-alloy noma ye-nodular. Indawo yokusebenza yejenali kanye ne-CAM iyapholishwa ngemva kokwelashwa ngokushisa.
