Vacuum Cups Carrying Capacity
Vacuum Cups Carrying Capacity
EUROTECH provides wide selection of industrial vacuum suction cups for different industrial applications. According to DIN EN 13155, the vacuum cups carrying capacity specifies the maximum load that a suction cup can carry under the conditions specified by the manufacturer.
The carrying capacity of suction cups is calculated using the following formulas:
m: Carrying capacity
p: Differential pressure between ambient pres- sure and system pressure (corresponds to the amount of the relative vacuum)
[Pa] = [N/m2] = [kg/m x s2]
A: Effective suction area [m2]
g: Gravitational acceleration
[m/s2]g ≈ 9,81 m/s2
SF: Safety factor (partly dependent on the area of application and on national standards and directives)
μ: Friction coefficient (depends on surface properties, surface pressure, temperature)
The friction coefficients must be considered when calculating vertical carrying capacity. Friction coefficients can be disregarded for horizontal carrying capacities.
A meaningful friction coefficient can only be determined if the general conditions are considered.
The values for the vertical capacity specified in this catalogue always use a friction coefficient of μ = 0.5 and refer to measurements taken on dry glass under lab conditions. The real friction coefficients and the real vertical carrying capacities may differ proportionally from the catalogue data.
Physical Quantities Chart for Vacuum Suction Cups
| Physical Dimensions | Description | Physical Dimensions | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | outer diameter | SW | width across flat |
| d | inner diameter | Z | stroke |
| L | length | G | outer thread |
| B | width | g | inner thread |
| H | height | I | Amperage |
| K | thread height | U | Voltage |
| R | radius |
| Physical Dimensions | SI-unit | Other Units | Conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length l | m (metre) | “ (inch) | 1“ = 2.54 cm = 0.0254 m |
| Time t | s (seconds) | min, h | 1 h = 60 min = 3,600 s |
| Mass m | kg (kilogramme) | ||
| Force F | N = kg·m / s² (newton) | ||
| Power P | W = N·m (watt) | ||
| Pressure p | Pa = N / m² (pascal) | bar | 1 Pa = 0.01 mbar |
Important Note on Effective Suction Area of a Vacuum Suction Cup
While the outer diameter of a suction cup is often used as a reference for sizing, it does not necessarily reflect the true effective suction area. In reality, the effective suction area is the part of the suction cup that forms tight, consistent, and sealed contact with the surface of the workpiece.
This is especially relevant for:
- Bellow-type or deep-profile cups where inner rings or ribs define the main contact area
- Soft sealing lips that deform under vacuum but don’t contribute to full suction force
- Irregular or curved surfaces, where only part of the suction cup seals effectively
⚠️ Misinterpreting the suction area can result in:
- Overestimated load capacities
- Inadequate safety margins
- Risk of workpiece dropping or slipping
For this reason, EUROTECH calculates carrying capacities based only on the actual effective contact area — not the entire outer diameter. This ensures realistic, safe, and standards-compliant performance values, as per DIN EN 13155.