Enter the total screw torque, length of the lever arm, and the angle of the applied force into the calculator to determine the linear force.

Screw Torque to Linear Force Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the linear force from screw torque.

LF = ST / (L * Sin(a))
  • Where LF is the linear force (N)
  • St is the screw torque (N-m)
  • L is the lever arm length (m)
  • a is the angle of the applied force (degrees)

To calculate linear force from screw torque, divide the screw torque by the product of the lever arm length and the sine of the angle of applied force.

What is a Screw Torque?

Definition:

Screw torque is the force needed to tighten a fastener to a certain point. The amount of torque required depends on the material, size, and, type of the screw.

The tightening process is influenced by the friction between threads, nut face, and bolt shank, which can be affected by lubrication and surface finish.

How to Convert Screw Torque to Linear Force?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to convert Screw Torque to Linear Force.

First, determine the screw torque. In this example, the screw torque is measured to be 400 lbf-ft.

Next, determine the lever arm length. The lever arm in this case is 2 ft.

Next, determine the angle of the force. For this problem, the force is applied at a 60 degree angle.

Finally, calculate the linear force using the formula above:

LF = ST / (L * Sin(a))

LF = 400 / (2 * Sin(60))

LF = 230.94 lbf