Estimating force required in a hand operated plunger

[skarthik94]

In the image attached, you can see a hand operated plunger for making String hoppers. The handle is rotated and the screw descends and plunges into to canister containing the batter.

To mechanize this process, one can use a linear actuator, but the catch is estimating the linear force required.

Can anyone provide some ideas to this?

 

[Unrest]

To mechanize this process, one can use a linear actuator, but the catch is estimating the linear force required.

You can find an upper limit by finding a typical person's arm strength then converting that to torque and to linear force.

Are you not able to measure the force on the handles?

 

[skarthik94]

I majored in electronics, not mechanical engineering, so I am a novice to measuring forces.

Finding out average man's arm strength can be done.

How do I measure the force on the handles? Can you suggest which measuring instrument to use?

 

[Unrest]

I majored in electronics, not mechanical engineering, so I am a novice to measuring forces.

Finding out average man's arm strength can be done.

How do I measure the force on the handles? Can you suggest which measuring instrument to use?

You could use two force meters like this, and have one person pull each handle with one, then sum them.

http://www.chinatraderonline.com/scale/Fish-Scale/