Hydraulic Cylinder Speed Calculator
Extend/retract speed and time from pump flow.
Speed is flow ÷ area — pressure plays no part until the load stalls it. The annulus retracts faster on the same flow; counterbalance valves keep that from becoming a crash.
Formula
Hydraulic Cylinder Speed Calculator is a free cylinder speed for mechanical and machine-design engineers — instant, accurate and 100% client-side, with the governing formula and reference shown next to the result so the number can be defended, not just quoted.
About Hydraulic Cylinder Speed Calculator
Extend/retract speed and time from pump flow. The calculation implements v = Q/A; t = stroke·A/Q (Fluid power circuit design). Speed is flow ÷ area — pressure plays no part until the load stalls it. The annulus retracts faster on the same flow; counterbalance valves keep that from becoming a crash.
How to use Hydraulic Cylinder Speed Calculator
- 1Enter Pump flow in L/min.
- 2Enter Bore in mm.
- 3Enter Rod diameter in mm.
- 4Enter Stroke in mm.
- 5Read Extend speed, Extend time, Retract time instantly — no submit button needed.
- 6Need US units? Flip the SI/Imperial toggle and every field converts.
Why use Hydraulic Cylinder Speed Calculator?
- ✓Implements the standard formula — v = Q/A; t = stroke·A/Q
- ✓Reference cited on-page: Fluid power circuit design
- ✓One-click SI ⇄ Imperial toggle — values convert in place, physics stays in SI
- ✓Live worked example: the substitution recomputes from your numbers
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser — nothing uploaded, free forever
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the Hydraulic Cylinder Speed Calculator use?+
It computes v = Q/A; t = stroke·A/Q, per Fluid power circuit design. The formula is displayed under the result along with a worked example substituted with your own inputs.
What should I keep in mind when using this calculator?+
Speed is flow ÷ area — pressure plays no part until the load stalls it. The annulus retracts faster on the same flow; counterbalance valves keep that from becoming a crash.
Is this suitable for machine design coursework?+
Yes — these are the exact Shigley/Machinery's-Handbook formulas, with the substitution shown step by step, so you can follow the worked example into your own calculation sheet.
Is the Hydraulic Cylinder Speed Calculator free to use?+
Yes — completely free, no sign-up, no limits. It runs client-side in your browser, so inputs stay private and results are instant even on slow connections.
Related Engineering tools
Reynolds Number Calculator
Compute Re from density, velocity, pipe diameter and viscosity — with instant laminar/turbulent classification.
● LiveLaminar vs Turbulent Flow Classifier
Classify hydraulic-oil or process-fluid flow regime from kinematic viscosity, line velocity and tube bore.
● LiveBernoulli Equation Solver
Solve downstream pressure between two points from velocities, elevations and fluid density (ideal, lossless).
● Live