SFX Fluid Calculator

**Calculate hydraulic and pneumatic systems for special effects work** Designed for SFX crews working with fluid-powered cylinders and gas cannons. Unlike other calculators, this app accounts for flow restrictions through hoses and fittings - giving you realistic performance predictions, not just theoretical values. It allows much higher flow rates & velocities than industrial calculators are intended for **Three Specialized Calculators:** **Hose & Elbow Calculator** Calculate pressure drop and maximum flow through your hose runs. See how hose length, diameter, and fittings affect performance. **Cylinder Calculator** Determine forces, velocities, and timing for hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. Includes buckling analysis for compression loads with safety factors. **Gas Cannon Calculator** Simulate compressed gas expansion for pneumatic cannons. Model gas transfer through orifices with choked flow calculations. Based on testing, 70% efficiency matches real-world results - a great starting point for your setup. It has a setting for dead-space (the volume at the top of the cylinder + hose from the valve to the cylinder) which has a big effect on the force & velocity profile. You can use this to run higher pressures but to spread out the force / acceleration to stop it buckling the rig. **Why Flow Restrictions Matter:** Most calculators assume unlimited flow, but real-world hoses and fittings create significant restrictions. This app shows you: - Actual pressure available after hose losses - True flow capacity of your system - How to properly size hoses and ports **Features:** ✓ Metric and imperial units ✓ Multiple fluid types (hydraulic oil, water, air, nitrogen) ✓ BSP fitting sizes built-in up th 2" ✓ Print-friendly reports ✓ Works offline ✓ No ads, no tracking, completely free **Built by SFX crew for SFX crew** Whether you're rigging a cylinder-powered effect or calculating cannon trajectories, this app gives you the numbers you need to plan your setup and troubleshoot performance issues. You can feed the force / velocity profiles into Solidworks Mothion Analysis to calculate actual trajectories.