Calculate hydraulic cylinder force and the required bore from pressure, rod diameter and efficiency.
Set the inputs and run the calculation.
Calculate cylinder force, annular area and required bore from pressure and load.
Operating gauge pressure p₍g₎, piston bore, rod diameter, efficiency and required force are evaluated for extension and retraction.
Enter gauge pressure because force comes from pressure difference between cylinder and surroundings. The rod reduces area during retraction; friction and seals make available force lower than p·A.
F = p·A·η. Extension uses full piston area; retraction uses annular area A = π(D²−d²)/4. Pressure is gauge pressure.
6 bar gauge and 50 mm bore give about 11.8 kN ideal extension force at η = 1; a 10 mm rod reduces retraction force to about 11.3 kN.
Sources and limits: Hydrostatic force identity in the ISO 4413 safety context. Check seals, friction, buckling, peaks and holding valves separately.
Calculate cylinder force, annular area and required bore from pressure and load.
Hydraulic calculations link pressure difference, effective area and flow. Pressure determines force, flow determines speed, while line losses and efficiency reduce ideal values.
F = p·A·η. Extension uses full piston area; retraction uses annular area A = π(D²−d²)/4. Pressure is gauge pressure.
Operating gauge pressure p₍g₎, piston bore, rod diameter, efficiency and required force are evaluated for extension and retraction. Enter gauge pressure because force comes from pressure difference between cylinder and surroundings. The rod reduces area during retraction; friction and seals make available force lower than p·A.
Enter operating gauge pressure, piston bore, rod diameter and efficiency. Check force separately for extension and retraction, since retraction uses only the annular area reduced by the rod's cross-section.
6 bar gauge and 50 mm bore give about 11.8 kN ideal extension force at η = 1; a 10 mm rod reduces retraction force to about 11.3 kN.
Enter gauge pressure because force comes from pressure difference between cylinder and surroundings. The rod reduces area during retraction; friction and seals make available force lower than p·A. The result is a pre-sizing point. Higher pressure raises cylinder force; more flow raises speed but usually also increases losses and heat.
Pressure in bar or MPa, diameter in millimetres, force in kN.
Initial sizing of a hydraulic cylinder for a known load, or checking whether an existing cylinder reaches the required force in both directions at the given operating pressure.
Hydrostatic force identity in the ISO 4413 safety context. Check seals, friction, buckling, peaks and holding valves separately.
Common mistake: Don't confuse gauge and absolute pressure – the force equation F = p·A uses gauge pressure relative to the vented opposite side, not absolute pressure. Use annular area for retraction, not full piston area, or retraction force is overestimated.
The piston rod occupies part of the piston area; on retraction, pressure acts only on the smaller annular area A = π(D²−d²)/4 instead of the full circular area.
It's an ideal starting value. Seal friction, rod buckling, load peaks and holding valves must be additionally checked for a real selection.
Well-maintained industrial cylinders commonly use 90 to 95%; seal type, wear and temperature can change the actual value.
Quick preliminary sizing of force, effective area, and bore for a hydraulic cylinder.
Results are preliminary engineering estimates. Component approval, safety functions, material, fatigue, installation checks and the complete system assessment remain separate.