Hydraulic Press Calculator
Calculate output force and mechanical advantage of a hydraulic press.
A hydraulic press multiplies force using Pascal's law - pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted equally in all directions. The force multiplication equals the ratio of output to input piston areas. A 10:1 area ratio turns 100 N of input into 1000 N of output. This principle is used in car jacks, industrial presses and braking systems.
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Frequently asked questions
Force multiplies by the area ratio. With 100 N input and 10:1 ratio, the output is 1000 N. The pressure (100 kPa in this case) is the same throughout the system.
Pressure = Force/Area. A 100 N force on a 10 cm² piston creates 100,000 Pa. This pressure acts on the 100 cm² output piston, producing 100,000 × 0.01 = 1000 N.
You gain force but lose distance. With 10:1 ratio, the input piston moves 10 cm to move the output 1 cm. Work in equals work out (minus friction): 100N × 0.1m = 1000N × 0.01m = 10 J.
A typical bottle jack generates 15-20 MPa (2175-2900 PSI). With a 50 cm² ram, that produces 75,000-100,000 N (about 7.5-10 tons) from a hand pump producing just 50-100 N.
Hydraulics transmit force around corners and over distances via flexible hoses. They also provide smooth, controllable force without gear backlash. A 20 MPa hydraulic system can produce 100 tons of force in a compact package.