Clamp Force Calculator
How much clamp tonnage does your part need — and which machine size does that put you on? Enter projected area, cold-runner area, material pressure class and safety margin. The physics follows our cycle time & clamp force guide.
How to use the result
Clamp force is projected area × cavity pressure × margin — nothing more. If the number lands above the machine you planned, the options in order of cost are: reduce projected area (smaller runner, different layout), split into fewer cavities, or step up a machine class. Too little clamp force shows up as flash around the whole parting line; too much machine costs an unnecessary hourly rate on every cycle — see the part cost guide for what machine class does to part price.
Cavity pressure classes are typical shop values for normal flow lengths, from the reference table in our clamp force guide. Very long thin flow paths, high-speed filling or abrasive filled materials can push real pressure above the class — confirm with mould-flow simulation for critical parts. Tonnage figures are planning values, not machine specifications.
Unsure which machine your project belongs on? Send Nordmould your part — request a project-specific breakdown of tooling, part price, timing and quality requirements.