Forces |
"Forces" describe the necessary force that needs to be applied with the fingers / hands or a tool. |
Explanation
Forces are divided into 3 areas:
•Forces > 5 N to 30 N and tools
Here, all positioning forces >5 N to 30 N and forces that must be applied when using a tool (e. g.: cordless screwdriver or pliers) are classified according to the mode of grasping.
Forces resulting from the type of tool used only depend on the design of the product to a limited extent. Optimum tool selection is therefore crucial for production planning.
•Forces < 50% Fmax
•Forces ≥ 50% Fmax
The maximum force Fmax is a statistical value that specifies the maximum possible force in Newton that can be applied continually by the average trained operator using an appropriate mode of grasping (e.g.: thumb to 4 fingers or thumb).
For the ergonomic evaluation, the intensity of the joining forces is included as the percentage share of the maximum force.
If the maximum force for a particular mode of grasping is 150 N and a joining force of 60 N is necessary, this joining force corresponds to 40% of the maximum force. This force is included in the "Forces <50%Fmax" section of the analysis sheet.
The following table should be used as a basis for the classification of forces:
