Hydraulic Cylinder Force and Speed

WHAT THIS SCREEN ANSWERS

Hydraulic cylinders can produce substantial force in a compact package, but force and speed come from different parts of the system. Pressure acting on area produces theoretical force. Flow through area produces speed. Rod area reduces retract force and changes retract speed. This screen makes those relationships visible before a bore or pump is selected from one attractive number.

Enter cylinder bore, rod diameter, system pressure, available flow, and stroke. MechPlane calculates piston and annular areas, theoretical push and pull force, extension speed, and simple travel time. The pressure and flow values remain explicit inputs because a nominal system rating does not prove what is available at the cylinder during a real cycle.

Real hydraulic behavior depends on valve capacity, hoses, fittings, relief settings, load-induced pressure, fluid temperature, viscosity, leakage, contamination, compressibility, cushioning, and pump behavior. Side load, rod buckling, mounting, seals, and cylinder construction can govern independently of the simple area calculation. A high theoretical force is not a released cylinder selection.

Use the result to establish a preliminary cylinder and flow envelope, then verify the exact hardware and circuit. Confirm load path, buckling, speed, pressure drop, thermal behavior, relief protection, hoses, fittings, seals, mounting, stored-energy hazards, and applicable safety requirements. A calculation cannot replace qualified hydraulic and machine review.