The camshaft is a part of the piston engine. Its role is to control the opening and closing operation of the valve. Although the camshaft rotational speed in a four-stroke engine is a half of the crankshaft (the same as the camshaft rotational speed in a two-stroke engine with the crankshaft), but usually it is still very high speed, but also need to withstand the large torque, so the design right demanding camshaft in terms of strength and support material is generally a special cast iron, occasionally using forgings. Valve motion law related to engine power and operation characteristics, the design in the design process of the engine camshaft occupies a very important position.

The main body of the camshaft is the same as the one with the cylinder length of the cylindrical rod. The above sets have several cam for driving the valve. One end of the camshaft is a bearing support and the other end is connected to the drive wheels.

 Cam side was egg-shaped. The design aims to ensure the the cylinder sufficient air intake and exhaust, specifically, within the shortest possible time to complete the valve opening and closing movements. In addition, taking into account the durability of the engine and the smoothness of operation, the valve can not be generated due to the deceleration process of opening and closing movements too much too large the impact of serious wear and tear of the valve, otherwise it will cause an increase in noise or other serious consequences. Therefore, the cam and the power of the engine torque output as well as the operation of the ride there is a direct relationship.

    Generally inline engine, a cam corresponding to a valve V-type engine or horizontal opposed type engine, every two valves share a cam. The rotary engine the valveless with gas engine because of its special structure, does not need cam.

According to the the camshaft number of how many, can be divided into single overhead camshaft (SOHC) and double overhead camshaft (DOHC), two kinds. The single overhead camshaft is only one camshaft, double overhead camshaft is two, this is too straightforward explanation.

 The single overhead camshaft with a camshaft in the cylinder head, direct drive into the exhaust valve, it has a simple structure, suitable for high-speed engine. Generally used in the past side camshaft, the camshaft in the cylinder side, is driven directly by a timing gear. The valve lifter to the rotation of the camshaft is converted into reciprocating motion of the valve must be used to transfer power. Thus, more parts of the reciprocating motion, the inertial mass, is not conducive to high-speed movement of the engine. Moreover, the slender tappet has a certain degree of flexibility, prone to vibration, accelerated component wear, even the valve control is lost.

DOHC cylinder head equipped with two camshafts, one is used to drive the intake valve, the other for driving the exhaust valve. Double overhead camshaft camshaft and valve spring design less demanding, especially for the hemispherical combustion chamber of the valve V-shaped configuration, but also facilitate and used in conjunction with four-valve gas distribution agencies.