KEVOS® MAKEOS · Mechanics
Machine Tipping Stability (Overturning, Safety Factor, Anchors)
Will this free-standing machine or cabinet tip over under a sideways acceleration or push, and if so, what anchor force holds it down?
Overturning check of a free-standing machine, rack or tank about its tipping edge by moments of forces: restoring moment of the weight about the edge (allowing for a floor slope), overturning moment from a horizontal acceleration at the centre of gravity (seismic, transport or braking) and from a horizontal force at its height, the safety factor against tipping, the acceleration and tilt angle that just tip it, and if the factor is short, the anchor tension per anchor to reach the required factor, against the anchor capacity.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Mass | kg | Mass of the machine with its contents. |
| Height of the centre of gravity | mm | Height of the centre of gravity above the floor. |
| Horizontal distance from the centre of gravity to the tipping edge | mm | Horizontal distance from the centre of gravity to the edge it would tip about. |
| Horizontal acceleration | g | Sideways acceleration as a share of gravity (seismic coefficient, transport or braking; your value from the code or duty). |
| Additional horizontal force | N | Extra horizontal push (wind, operator, hose pull). |
| Height of that force | mm | Height at which that push acts. |
| Floor slope toward the tipping edge | ° | Floor slope that leans the machine toward the tipping edge. |
| Safety factor against tipping required | Safety factor against tipping you require. | |
| Anchors on the far (uplift) side | Number of anchors on the side that lifts. | |
| Distance from the tipping edge to the anchors | mm | Distance from the tipping edge to the line of those anchors. |
| Anchor tension capacity | kN | Allowable tension per anchor (from the anchor maker for the floor). |
Method and formulas
- Restoring moment M_r = W (b cos θ − h sin θ) on a slope θ.
- Overturning moment M_o = W a h + F_h h_F.
- Safety factor = M_r ÷ M_o; acceleration to tip = b ÷ h (level floor); tilt to tip = tan⁻¹(b ÷ h).
- Anchor tension per anchor = (factor × M_o − M_r) ÷ (anchors × L_a) when the factor is short.
- Example: 0.3 g gives a factor of 1.1111; 2 anchors each need 1.7162 kN to reach 1.5.
Limitations
- Rigid body tipping about one edge; sliding and dynamic rocking are separate checks.
- Anchor capacity must include edge distance and concrete strength.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Check a tall cabinet or machine for tipping
- Size floor anchors for a seismic or transport load
- Check a load on a forklift or trolley for tipping
Who it is for
- Design engineers
- Safety engineers
- Plant engineers
What you get
- Restoring and overturning moments
- Safety factor and the acceleration that tips it
- Anchor tension needed against capacity
Interpreting the result
- Lowering the centre of gravity or widening the base helps far more than adding weight.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 167–168, 221–227. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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