Pneumatic Cylinder Force Calculator

Inputs

Bore diameter (B)

Inside cylinder bore / piston diameter.

Rod diameter (d)

Rod diameter. Retract force uses piston area minus rod area.

Gauge pressure (P)

Working air pressure. 0.6 MPa is 6 bar, about 87 psi.

bar

Efficiency (eta)

Allowance for seal friction and losses. Use 100 for theoretical force.

Stroke

Choose which force to highlight.

Default result

Selected force(F)

1,060N

Pass

1.06 kN · 238.4 lbf

Extend stroke uses full piston area.

Also computed

Extend force(F_ext)1,060N

1.06 kN · 238.4 lbf

Full piston area.

Retract force(F_ret)890.6N

0.8906 kN · 200.2 lbf

Piston area minus rod area.

Equivalent mass(F/g)108.1kg

Static vertical mass equivalent before application safety factors.

Piston area(A_p)1,963mm²

Annulus area(A_a)1,649mm²

Method notes 2 notes

Force uses gauge pressure times effective area, then multiplies by the entered efficiency allowance.
Real pneumatic sizing also needs speed, valve flow, pressure drop, cushioning, side load, friction, load orientation and a safety factor.