Hydraulic leverage trade-off

Here’s another Flint Hydraulics Tech Tip: Just as we experience a tradeoff of force vs. distance in mechanical leverage, so too with hydraulic leverage. A small force on a small piston can balance a higher force on a larger piston; however, though force is multiplied, distance (speed) is sacrificed. Need help troubleshooting your system? Call our team of experienced Certified Fluid Power Specialists today at 901-794-4884 or email sales@flinthyd.com.

Tradeoff in mechanical leverage

Here's another Flint Hydraulics Tech Tip: In mechanical leverage, does an input force of 10 lbs and an output force of 100 lbs mean we're getting something for nothing? No. Because the long arm is ten times the length of the short arm, the long arm must move ten times the distance that the short arm  moves. While we gain force by a factor of ten, we lose distance (speed) by a divisor of ten. We experience this same tradeoff in hydraulics. Need help troubleshooting? Call out team today at 901-794-4884, or email sales@flinthyd.com.

Transmitting force with mechanical leverage

Here's another Flint Hydraulics Tech Tip: Hydraulics is similar to mechanical leverage in that with either means of transmitting force, a small input force results in a larger output force. This is the reason a small hydraulic cylinder can push with high force. The mathematical formula for a mechanical lever is Output Force = Input Force x Lever Length, while the formula for hydraulics is Output Force = Pressure x Piston Surface Area.