Speed for a Hydraulic Cylinder

Enter value and click on calculate. Result will be displayed.
GPM of a Pump:
Bore Of a Cylinder:
inches
Stroke:
Daimeter Of a Rod:
inches
Extended Speed Of Cylinder:
inch/sec
Retracted Speed Of Cylinder:
inch/sec
Extend Time:
sec
Retract Time:
sec
Cycle Time:
sec

The speed of a hydraulic cylinder depends on several factors, including the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid, the bore size of the cylinder, and the pressure within the system. Here's how these factors influence speed:

  1. Flow Rate (Q): The amount of hydraulic fluid that flows through the cylinder per unit of time. This is typically measured in liters per minute (LPM) or gallons per minute (GPM). The higher the flow rate, the faster the cylinder will move.

  2. Cylinder Bore Size (A): The cross-sectional area of the cylinder bore. The larger the bore, the more fluid it can contain and the more force it can generate, but it can also affect speed.

  3. Rod Size (R): The size of the rod affects the area of the piston that is exposed to hydraulic fluid. The larger the rod, the smaller the area of fluid exposed on the rod side, which can slow down the cylinder's speed on the return stroke.

  4. Pressure (P): The pressure applied to the hydraulic fluid affects the force generated by the cylinder. Higher pressure usually results in greater force, but it can also impact the speed.

Formula for Speed

The speed of the cylinder (S) can be calculated with the following formula:

Where:

  • S = Speed of the cylinder (meters per second or inches per second)
  • Q = Flow rate (liters per minute or gallons per minute)
  • A = Effective piston area (square inches or square centimeters)

For a cylinder with a rod:

  • The area on the rod side will be reduced due to the rod's cross-sectional area, so the formula for speed on the return stroke becomes:

Example

For a cylinder with:

  • Flow rate Q=20 LPM
  • Bore size A=100 cm2

The speed can be calculated as:

This means the cylinder will extend at a speed of 0.2 meters per second.