in the following detailed description , certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 usc 112 , but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims . referring to fig5 – 7 , a cam 38 according to the present invention is shown which includes an adapter 40 , a slide 42 , and a driver 44 . while an aerial cam is shown in that the adapter 40 and slide 42 is above the driver 44 , the present invention is also applicable to die mounted cams as described above . the adapter 40 is affixed to a press upper platen ( not shown ) using keys 46 to be accurately and securely positioned thereon . the driver 44 is mounted to a press lower platen ( not shown ). the slide 42 is suspended on the adapter 40 by a pair of inboard located t blocks 48 affixed to the upper side of the slide , and passed through slot openings 50 in a base plate 52 of the adapter 40 . as seen in fig7 , 12 and 13 , the base plate 52 has an underplate 54 affixed thereto , with slots 56 formed therein freely receiving the narrow lower part 49 of a respective t block 48 , the head portion 51 resting on surfaces adjacent the respective slot 56 . a clearance space 58 ( fig1 ) exists between the mating bearing surfaces on slide 42 and adapter 40 when the slide 42 is suspended from the adapter 40 , but is eliminated after a short delay when the press motion then initially causes the engagement of the slide 42 with the driver 44 for a purpose to be described below . this clearance 58 can be relatively slight , i . e ., on the order of 0 . 001 to 002 inches . the slide 42 slides laterally on the adapter 40 in the embodiment , shown in fig5 – 7 when the slide 42 is shifted by engagement with the driver 44 as the upper press platen descends as seen in fig8 b – 8d . a set of wear plates 60 on the adapter 40 rides on a mating set of wear plates 62 on the upper side of the slide 42 . as will be discussed below , the angle of the engagement surface on the adapter 40 changes with the working angle of the driver 44 since the included angle of the slide 42 typically remains constant with changes in the working angle . thus , the wear plates on the adapter 40 will be inclined down from horizontal as the working angle becomes shallower . the lateral component of the motion of the slide 42 relative the adapter 40 proceeds against the resistance of a series of compression springs 68 in pockets 64 formed in the slide 42 , the springs 68 projecting out against end wall 66 of the adapter 40 . a closure lock as described in copending u . s . application ser . no . 10 / 954 , 960 , filed on sep . 29 , 2004 may be employed if nitrogen springs are used . a combination mechanical spring may be used instead of nitrogen springs as described in u . s . application ser . no . 10 / 936 , 213 , filed on sep . 7 , 2004 . according to the teaching of the present invention , the driver 44 is of a segmented , built up construction comprised of a flat base plate 70 , having a side by side series of parallel upright flat plates 72 affixed to the upper surface . the length and working angles are easily varied by changing the configuration and number of plates 72 and the size of the base plate 70 . this construction is much cheaper than producing a new casting for each configuration particularly considering that a separate mold must be designed and built for each configuration . a support plate 74 is affixed to the upright plates 72 held at the working angle by the angled upper ends of the upright plates 72 . cam wear plates 76 are secured to the support plate 74 . the inclined lower side of the slide 42 is provided with mating cam wear plates 78 . an upwardly projecting central locator key 80 is affixed to the driver 44 , aligned with a central slot 82 in the lower side of the slide 42 . the locator key 80 is located and configured to move into the slot 82 as the upper platen lowers the slide 42 onto the driver 44 but before engagement of the cam wear plates 76 , 78 . this laterally locates the slide 42 and guides it after the slide 42 is advanced along the working angle by the platen motion and engagement of the cam wear plates 76 , 78 . fig8 a – 8d , 12 and 13 illustrate the working of a cam according to the invention . in the initial condition , the slide 42 is suspended below the adapter 40 by the t blocks , with a clearance space 58 therebetween . as the upper platen 84 descends towards the lower platen 86 , the locator key 80 enters the slot 82 to provide lateral location and guidance , as seen in fig8 b . the clearance space 58 is then still present , and the cam wear plates 76 , 78 have not yet engaged . continued descent of the upper platen 84 brings the cam wear plates 76 , 78 into initial contact as seen in fig8 c . the clearance space 58 still exists , although now being reduced . this initial contact causes the momentum of the slide 42 to be absorbed by driver 44 and results in initiation of the camming motion of the slide 42 , as indicated by the lateral motion of the slide 42 , compressing spring 68 . it should be noted that the extent of this motion and the size of the clearance space 58 is shown exaggerated in order to be readily visible in the drawings . the next stage , shown in fig8 d shows that the clearance space 58 has now been completely eliminated , and the press forces exerted by the upper platen 84 cause continued camming advance of the slide 42 along the working angle . this drives the tooling 88 into contact with a workpiece 90 , fully compressing the spring 68 in the advanced position , as indicated diagrammatically in fig9 . thus , in the initial engagement of the wear plates 76 , 78 only the momentum of the slide 42 is absorbed , and the positive press drive force is momentarily delayed until the clearance 58 is taken up . this reduces shock and noise , and obviates the need for auxiliary cam rollers , formerly used , and is described and claimed in copending application u . s . ser . no . 11 / 069 , 828 , filed on feb . 28 , 2005 . as noted , if the working angle is shallower , the adapter 40 a will have an inclined wear plates as seen in fig1 , and in this case , the adapter 40 a may also be constructed using a parallel series of plates 92 cut at an angle to incline a support plate 94 , in similar fashion to the driver 44 a . the t block 96 passes through a slot in the support plate 94 and rides on the surface of the support plate 94 . the same initial clearance is provided as indicated . the slide 42 is contemplated as being made from a casting . however , a common casting can be used for several length sizes by sawing off portions 42 a of the casting as indicated in fig1 by the broken lines to reduce the total number of casting lengths required . if the driver has horizontal wear plates for steeply angled adapters , then the driver may be configured in a similar way as to the adapter . accordingly , a press mounted cam can be economically manufactured in a great number of sizes and working angles .