About

Hydraulic engineers and heavy machinery operators frequently encounter the need to translate modern ISO pressure readings into legacy units. While Megapascals (MPa) govern contemporary technical documentation, many hydraulic presses, gauges, and older technical manuals rely on Kilogram-force per square centimeter (kgf/cm²). Accuracy in this conversion is non-negotiable. A miscalculation in a high-pressure hydraulic system can lead to catastrophic seal failures, structural fatigue, or safety valve malfunctions.

This tool addresses the specific requirement for high-precision conversion factors derived from standard gravity. Unlike rough approximations, this utility uses the standard gravitational acceleration constant to ensure the output aligns with rigorous engineering standards. It is designed for mechanical engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel who require reliable data for system calibration and stress testing.

Formulas

The conversion relies on the definition of standard gravity (g). One Megapascal is equivalent to one million Pascals, where a Pascal is one Newton per square meter. To convert to the gravitational metric unit, we apply the following relation:

P_kgf/cm² ≈ P_MPa × 10.19716213

Conversely, to revert the calculation:

P_MPa ≈ P_kgf/cm² × 0.0980665

Reference Data

Pressure (MPa)	Pressure (kgf/cm²)	Common Application
0.1	1.0197	Low-pressure pneumatics
0.5	5.0986	Domestic water systems
1.0	10.1972	Standard atmospheric baseline
2.0	20.3943	Car tire inflation (Trucks)
5.0	50.9858	Light hydraulic lifts
10.0	101.9716	Industrial air compressors
20.0	203.9432	Injection molding clamp pressure
25.0	254.9291	Excavator hydraulic systems
35.0	356.9007	High-pressure gas cylinders
50.0	509.8581	Water jet cutting (Low end)
100.0	1019.7162	Heavy industrial pressing
200.0	2039.4324	Laboratory hydrostatic tests
400.0	4078.8649	Ultra-high pressure synthesis
700.0	7138.0135	Advanced autofrettage
1000.0	10197.1621	Experimental physics

Frequently Asked Questions

This factor is derived from standard gravity. Since 1 kgf is defined as the force exerted by one kilogram of mass in standard gravity (9.80665 m/s²), and 1 MPa is 1,000,000 Newtons/m², the ratio results in approximately 10.197.

Technically, no. This is a conversion of pressure units, not a calculation of fluid properties dependent on temperature. However, the equipment reading the pressure (gauges) may be sensitive to temperature changes.

The tool calculates using floating-point arithmetic with high precision, displaying results up to 6 decimal places to satisfy strict engineering tolerances.

Yes. The unit kgf/cm² is often referred to as the technical atmosphere (at). It differs slightly from the standard physical atmosphere (atm).