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Hydraulic Press Tonnage Calculator

Calculate the required tonnage for blanking, bending, and drawing operations. Get press size recommendations with safety margins and cost estimates.

in

Common: 0.0625 - 0.500

in

Square blank side, or use perimeter/4

60,000 PSI

Auto-filled by material selection

Results

Required Tonnage

180 tons

Perimeter (48") x Thickness (0.125") x Tensile (60,000 PSI) / 2000

With 20% Safety Margin

216 tons

Recommended Press Size

300 tons

Next standard size

Press Type

Mechanical

Higher SPM for production blanking, lower cost under 200 tons

Estimated Cost

$150K-$300K

New equipment range

Standard Press Sizes Reference

Press Size (tons)Typical UseStatus
100 tonsUnder-sizedToo small
150 tonsUnder-sizedToo small
200 tonsAdequateAvailable
300 tonsRecommendedBest fit
400 tonsOver-sizedAvailable
500 tonsOver-sizedAvailable

Get Your Press Sizing Report

  • Tonnage calculation breakdown (PDF)
  • Press type comparison
  • Cost estimate

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Understanding Press Tonnage

Selecting the right press tonnage is critical. Under-sizing leads to tool damage and part defects, while over-sizing wastes capital. The required force depends on the operation type, material properties, and workpiece dimensions.

Tonnage Formulas

OperationFormula
Blanking/PunchingTons = Perimeter x Thickness x Tensile Strength / 2000
V-BendingTons = Length x Thickness² x Tensile Strength / (Die Width x 2000)
DrawingTons = Circumference x Thickness x Tensile Strength x Draw Factor / 2000

Hydraulic vs. Mechanical

Hydraulic presses provide full tonnage throughout the stroke, making them ideal for deep drawing, forming, and operations requiring dwell time. Mechanical presses are faster (higher strokes per minute) and better suited for high-volume blanking and shallow forming.

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