Surface Speed Calculator
Calculate linear surface speed from roller diameter and RPM. Useful for conveyors, web processing, and extrusion lines.
surface speed
linear speed
conveyor
roller
RPM
m/min
web
Input values
⚙
Enter values and click Calculate to see results here.
Formula
v = (π × D × RPM) / 1000 [m/min]
v = (π × D × RPM) / 60000 [m/s]
Worked Example
Given: A conveyor roller with 200 mm diameter rotates at 95 RPM.
Step 1: v = (π × 200 × 95) / 1000 = 59,690 / 1000 = 59.7 m/min
Step 2: v = 59.7 / 60 = 0.995 m/s
To convert to km/h: 59.7 × 60 / 1000 = 3.58 km/h
Engineering Notes
- Roller diameter: Measure the actual roller diameter, not the nominal. Wear can reduce the effective diameter over time.
- Slip: This calculation assumes no slip between the belt/web and roller. For friction-driven conveyors, account for slip percentage.
- Speed matching: When synchronizing multiple conveyors, measure each roller individually. Manufacturing tolerances cause speed variations.
- PLC implementation: Use this formula in PLC programs to calculate line speed from encoder and diameter inputs.