How Cylinder Force is Calculated
The force exerted by a pneumatic cylinder is a direct function of the air pressure and the effective surface area of the piston. The formula is Force = Pressure × Area.
- Push Force (Extend): The force is calculated using the full area of the piston, as air pushes on the entire face.
- Pull Force (Retract): The force is lower because the piston rod takes up space, reducing the surface area that the air can push against. The calculation uses the piston area minus the rod area.