Cylinder Force Calculation: How to Calculate hydraulic Cylinder Force Output

When moving or holding a load, you need the correct rated cylinders to safely perform the task. That’s where the cylinder force calculation comes in handy. Just remember, the force calculation of a pneumatic cylinder could differ between the push force and the pull force. So how do you know which cylinder force calculation to use?

What Are the Parts of a Hydraulic Cylinder?

A hydraulic cylinder typically consists of five main parts that work together to lift, move, and hold loads. The parts of the cylinder include:

• Cylinder piston. The piston is responsible for the compression inside the cylinder chamber that pushes the cylinder rod to create movement by the cylinder.
• Cylinder rod (shaft). The cylinder rod is the primary moving part of the cylinder that performs the work of pushing or pulling.
• Cylinder stroke. The stroke maintains the distance that the piston and rod can move when exerting force on a load.
• Cylinder head (cylinder gland). The head is the end of the cylinder tube that the rod moves through. It contains a seal to maintain the hydraulic pressure inside the cylinder space.
• Cylinder cap (end cap). At the other end of the cylinder is the end cap or base, where the cylinder attaches to your hydraulic equipment.

Cylinder Force Calculation Explained

The hydraulic cylinder force calculation depends on whether the cylinder uses push force or pull force to do work. A single-acting cylinder uses push force only. However, a double-acting cylinder loses some surface area in its range of movement, requiring you to alter your calculations.

Cylinder Push Force vs. Pull Force

Your first step in either calculation is to find the working area of the cylinder. For a single-acting cylinder that uses just push force, the formula is:

Working Area=4π(Piston Diameter)^2

When calculating the area for a double-acting cylinder, you need to calculate the cylinder rod area with the formula below:

Cylinder Rod Area= π(Cylinder Bore Diameter^2 – Cylinder Rod Diameter^2)/4

After calculating the working area and cylinder rod area, simply multiply by the PSI to get the push force or double-acting pull force. So for push force, the formula would be:

Push Force=PSI x 4π(Piston Diameter)^2

And for the double-acting cylinder pull formula, the formula would be:

Double-Acting Cylinder Force=PSI x π(Cylinder Bore Diameter^2 – Cylinder Rod Diameter^2)/4

Contact Greenshields Industrial Supply for Pneumatic Cylinder Replacement Parts

At Greenshields Industrial Supply, we have served our neighbors in Everett, WA, and the surrounding areas across several industries, including logging, road construction, excavation, automotive services, marine construction, and more. Our brick-and-mortar store opened in 1953, and we have helped our customers find the right parts for their jobs for over 60 years.

Now that you know how to do cylinder force calculation, contact us at Greenshields Industrial Supply for cylinders and other hydraulic parts. We also offer equipment repair and service, custom parts assembly, and more. We’re your one-stop shop for hydraulic parts and systems in the Pacific Northwest.