Clamping Force Calculator

Determine the required clamping force to secure an optical component, with bolt torque estimation.

Component & Mounting
Required Clamping Force
Component weight
0.4511N
Applied force (at design accel.)
0.4511N
Total normal force required
SF = 3×, µₛ = 0.6
2.256N
Force per clamp point (3 points)
0.7518N
Design Parameters
Orientation
vertical
Static friction (µₛ)
0.6000
Safety factor
3.000×
Design acceleration
1.000× g
Guidance
Low clamping force required. A light retaining ring or gravity with a lip may suffice. Using 3 clamp points provides good load distribution.
Abridged Optics — Clamping Force Calculator v1.0Assumes rigid contact. Does not account for thermal expansion or vibration fatigue.

All information, equations, and calculations have been compiled and verified to the best of our ability. For mission-critical applications, we recommend independent verification of all values. If you find an error, please let us know.