Compression Force Calculator
Determine the compression force required for molding material. The calculator computes force based on part area, compression pressure, and material thickness — key parameters for injection-compression molding and press processes.
Input Parameters
Results
Fill in the data and click Calculate
ARGUS automatically selects compression parameters based on material and geometry
Compression force determines press selection — ARGUS combines force calculations with process parameters and material characteristics.
How do we calculate compression force?
Compression force is the force needed to compress material in a pressing or injection-compression molding process. This process is used primarily for thermosets, rubber, and BMC/SMC composites, but also in injection-compression molding for precision thermoplastic parts (lenses, optical discs).
The calculator uses a basic pressure-area formula to determine the press closing force.
F[ton] = F[kN] / 9.81
F — compression force [kN]
A — part area [cm²]
p — compression pressure [bar]
Compression pressure depends on material type and process. For thermosets, typical values are 200–600 bar; for rubber 100–300 bar; for SMC/BMC 50–200 bar. In injection-compression of thermoplastics, pressure is 200–800 bar. Material thickness affects the required press stroke and cycle time.
Injection-compression molding
Injection-compression molding combines the advantages of injection (speed, repeatability) with those of compression molding (low stress, better optical quality). This process is used for:
Large panels — uniform pressure distribution
Thin-walled parts — lower pressure than conventional injection
Composites — preservation of fiber orientation
When selecting a press, it is essential to account for the maximum closing force with a safety margin of at least 20%. Presses are classified by tonnage: 50–5000 tons. For injection-compression, an additional criterion is the precision of position and closing force control.
Compression process optimization
Key optimization parameters: compression pressure (too low — under-compression, too high — excessive stresses), mold temperature (affects viscosity and cure time), pressing time (must ensure complete curing or crystallization). In ARGUS, these parameters are optimized jointly.
ARGUS automatically optimizes compression parameters based on material and geometry
See it for yourself — book a presentation and discover how ARGUS combines force calculations with the full process context.