KEVOS® MAKEOS · Pneumatics
Vacuum Cup Holding Force
Will these suction cups hold this part during handling?
Holding force of vacuum suction cups from cup diameter, vacuum level and number of cups, compared with the force needed for horizontal lifting or vertical (shear) handling with acceleration and a safety factor.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Cup effective diameter | mm | Effective suction diameter of each cup. |
| Number of cups | cups | Cups sharing the load. |
| Vacuum level (below atmospheric) | kPa | Vacuum level achieved at the cups (e.g. 60 kPa below atmospheric for porous-free parts). |
| Part mass | kg | Mass of the part. |
| Acceleration during handling | m/s² | Peak acceleration of the gripper. |
| Load direction | choice | Whether the cups pull straight off the part or hold it in shear. |
| Friction coefficient cup to part (vertical) | Friction between cup and part for shear loading (dry metal about 0.5; oily parts much lower). | |
| Safety factor | Safety factor (2 for horizontal, 4 or more for vertical handling are common). |
Method and formulas
- Holding force per cup = vacuum × π D² ÷ 4 (kPa × mm² ÷ 1000 = N).
- Horizontal: required = m (g + a) × safety factor.
- Vertical (shear): required = m (g + a) ÷ μ × safety factor.
- Example: 4 cups of 40 mm at 60 kPa hold 301.59 N against 148.07 N required.
Limitations
- Flat, non-porous, rigid surfaces; porous, curved or oily parts reduce holding force.
- Cup deformation and peel loads are not considered.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Size vacuum cups for a robot or lifter
- Check a gripper for faster motion
- Compare horizontal and vertical handling
Who it is for
- Automation engineers
- Robot integrators
What you get
- Holding force per cup and in total
- Force required
- Margin
Interpreting the result
- Use the cup maker’s theoretical force tables and add vacuum monitoring for safety.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 3032–3041. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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