How to Calculate Force to Find the Right Linear Actuator

Calculating Linear Actuator Force for Your Application

Guninder Malhi
Guninder Malhi
PA Engineer

This article is dedicated to walking you through the process of calculating the force of an actuator required to successfully lift the load of your application. There are a couple of factors involved to find the right force, including the load, the angle at which it is being pushed and the size of the load.

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Straight up Versus Angled Mount

The direction of linear actuator force determines the calculation that needs to be used. The actuator can be mounted straight up or at an angle. Below, we discuss both configurations and how to calculate the force of the linear actuator in each scenario.

Mounted Straight Up

To calculate an actuator’s push-pull force if it is mounted straight up, the actuator required should be the same force rating as your required weight. However, one should always opt for an actuator with a higher force than the load to be on the safe side. This is due to friction and other factors which can increase the force required to move the load. As in the picture below, for example, if the load is 50 lbs then the force rating (F) of the actuator should be greater than 50 lbs.

Actuator load mounted straight up

 

Mounted at an Angle

When the load and the actuator need to be mounted at an angle, the means to calculate actuator force changes quite significantly. As the actuator will be pushing at an angle, in most cases it will need a higher force than the actual load in order to lift it.

 

Actuator load of mounted at an angle

 

The above figure perfectly demonstrates the factors one must consider when calculating force for an angled mount. For example, if the load is 50 lbs and it is mounted at a 45° angle (θ) to the ground, one must ensure that the force perpendicular to the load, F sinθ, in this case, is greater than or equal to 50 lbs.

Сalculater force for an angled mount linear actuator

 

This means that if you are pushing a load of 50 lbs at a 45° angle, you would need a linear actuator force that can handle pushing at least 71 lbs.

Alternatively, if you are planning to push the load sideways and would like to push it at an angle of 60°, it is the same equation but altered to account for the direction you are pushing your application’s load. This is shown in the image below.

 

Actuator load of mounted at an angle of 60°

 

You will also be using the same method as shown previously, as per the below equation.

Сalculater force for an angled of 60° mount linear actuator

 

Use our Actuator Compare Tool to check and compare multiple actuators at once!

 

Final Word

To sum up, the equations mentioned in this article represent each scenario whereby your linear actuator’s mounting is perpendicular to the load. Use these calculations to determine the required force rating of your actuator, ensuring you are never undercutting the amount you will need. It is a simple step but can help save you a lot of time when selecting the right linear actuator force. Progressive Automations provide multiple guides and resources to select the right linear actuator for your application. Once you have selected the right force, you can determine the stroke, voltage, and what control methods you would like to use. If you do require further assistance on how to choose a linear actuator for your application, give us a call at 1-800-676-6123, or email us at sales@progressiveautomations.com.

Guninder Malhi

PA Engineer
I immigrated to Canada in 2013 for my bachelor's in mechatronics. During my time at the university, I started my professional career by doing my initial co-ops at the university. It helped me learn more about programming and its use in medical and agricultural devices. I went on to do a few additional co-ops to gain a deeper understanding of embedded systems.