Calculate press force and estimate cutting and stripping forces from shear strength, sheet thickness, perimeter, and material presets.

Ideal force estimate. Material presets are approximate starting values; verify actual shear strength and stripping load. This does not size or certify a press.

Press Force Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the Press Force.

PF = CF + SF
  • Where PF is the press force
  • CF is the cutting force
  • SF is the stripping force
    • A 10–20% stripping allowance is a rough estimate; actual stripping force depends on the material and tooling.

To calculate the press force, add the cutting force and stripping force together.

The cutting force can further be broken down into the following equation:

CF = L × S × T
  • Where L is the length to be cut
  • S is the sheet thickness
  • T is the shear strength of the material

What is a Press Force?

Definition:

In this simplified estimate, press force is the sum of cutting and stripping forces. Actual press selection also requires the machine rating, stroke, tooling loads and an appropriate design margin.

How to Calculate Press Force?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate Press Force.

First, determine the cutting force. From the length, thickness, and shear strength, the cutting force in this example is calculated to be 100 N.

Next, determine the stripping force. Using the general rule of thumb of 15%, the stripping force is found to be 15 N.

Finally, calculate the press force using the formula above:

PF = CF + SF

PF = 100+15

PF =115 N