Lateral Forces Calculator
Calculate lateral forces acting on side cores (sliders) of the mold under injection pressure. The calculator determines lateral force, friction force, and required locking force — key parameters for designing the slider mechanism.
Input Parameters
Results
Fill in the data and click Calculate
ARGUS automatically analyzes lateral forces for all sliders in the mold
Lateral forces determine the structural integrity of the slider mechanism — ARGUS combines force analysis with mold design and process parameters.
How do we calculate lateral forces on cores?
Lateral forces act on the mold's side cores (sliders, lifters) under the influence of cavity pressure. Side cores enable molding of undercuts, side holes, and features that would otherwise prevent the mold from opening. Lateral forces must be absorbed by the slider locking mechanism.
The calculator decomposes the force from cavity pressure into normal and lateral components, accounting for core angle and friction.
Ffric = A × p × cos(α) × μ / 10
Ftotal = Flat + Ffric
A — core area [cm²]
p — cavity pressure [bar]
α — core angle [°]
μ — friction coefficient
The larger the core angle, the greater the lateral force component. Standard slider angles are 10–25°. Angles above 30° require a reinforced locking mechanism. The steel-to-plastic friction coefficient is typically 0.1–0.3, depending on material and surface roughness.
Slider mechanism design
The slider locking force must exceed the total lateral force with an appropriate safety margin (×1.5–2.0). Typical locking mechanisms:
Hydraulic cylinder — up to 200 kN, adjustable force
Mechanical lock — up to 500 kN, requires precise fit
Pneumatic cylinder — up to 30 kN, fast action
When designing sliders, it is essential to ensure adequate cooling of the side core — side cores often have limited cooling surface area, which can extend cycle time. In ARGUS, lateral force analysis is integrated with thermal analysis and mold cooling design.
Minimizing lateral forces
To minimize lateral forces: reduce core area (if possible), lower cavity pressure, apply an optimal angle, improve core surface roughness. In some cases, the slider can be replaced with a collapsible core or the mold parting line can be repositioned.
ARGUS automatically analyzes lateral forces and designs slider mechanisms
See it for yourself — book a presentation and discover how ARGUS integrates force analysis with mold design.