{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets are written by Xem Studio from the cited sources and are free to use (CC BY 4.0, attribute 'Xem Studio'). Linked files belong to their publishers under the license shown; Xem Studio does not host them. 'license_verified: false' means the license shown is from memory or the publisher's page as last read and should be confirmed at the link before commercial use.",
 "slug": "toggle-press-mechanism",
 "name": "Toggle (knee-lever) press mechanism",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "Mechanisms",
 "group": "Linkages",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How much force does a toggle press give?",
 "tags": [
  "mechanism",
  "linkages",
  "kinematics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "toggle mechanism",
  "knee lever",
  "toggle press",
  "toggle clamp mechanism"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 1,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/toggle-press-mechanism/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/toggle-press-mechanism/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Xem Studio drawing; classic mechanism (Brown No. 164)",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "Two equal links in line with the output, bent slightly at the knee. A side force F at the knee gives an end force F / (2·tan θ), θ = each link's angle off the straight line.",
   "At θ = 15° the gain is 1.87×; it rises without limit as the links straighten (θ → 0), which is why presses, clamps and stone crushers use it.",
   "The stroke shrinks as the force grows: the end moves 2L(1 − cos θ) while straightening.",
   "Parts (each has its own page): toggle-links-50, crosshead-8mm, crosshead-guide-8mm, pins-3mm. Brown's movement No. 164 shows it (1868)."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "link centres L",
     "50 mm"
    ],
    [
     "angle θ (drawn)",
     "15°"
    ],
    [
     "force gain at θ",
     "1.87×"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Toggle (knee-lever) press mechanism — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/toggle-press-mechanism/  (CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: Xem Studio drawing; classic mechanism (Brown No. 164)\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- Two equal links in line with the output, bent slightly at the knee. A side force F at the knee gives an end force F / (2·tan θ), θ = each link's angle off the straight line.\n- At θ = 15° the gain is 1.87×; it rises without limit as the links straighten (θ → 0), which is why presses, clamps and stone crushers use it.\n- The stroke shrinks as the force grows: the end moves 2L(1 − cos θ) while straightening.\n- Parts (each has its own page): toggle-links-50, crosshead-8mm, crosshead-guide-8mm, pins-3mm. Brown's movement No. 164 shows it (1868).\n\nparameter  value\nlink centres L  50 mm\nangle θ (drawn)  15°\nforce gain at θ  1.87×\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Henry T. Brown (1868, public domain): Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements — scan on archive.org — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://archive.org/details/fivehundredseven00browiala\n\nFree files (CC BY 4.0, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/toggle-press-mechanism/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=toggle-press-mechanism\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Henry T. Brown (1868, public domain)",
   "title": "Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements — scan on archive.org",
   "url": "https://archive.org/details/fivehundredseven00browiala",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "toggle-links-50",
  "crosshead-8mm",
  "crosshead-guide-8mm",
  "pins-3mm"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "How much force does a toggle press give?",
   "a": "Two equal links in line with the output, bent slightly at the knee. A side force F at the knee gives an end force F / (2·tan θ), θ = each link's angle off the straight line."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "toggle-press-mechanism-assembly",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/toggle-press-mechanism/toggle-press-mechanism-assembly.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/toggle-press-mechanism/toggle-press-mechanism-assembly.stl",
   "note": "Assembled mechanism, all parts placed (STEP keeps each part separate)"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/toggle-press-mechanism/index.md"
}