Ergonomics For Handle Design 1

[redtricycle]

What's a comfortable force to turn a handle? The handle connects to a sprocket that will turn 30 ft-lbs, and I'm trying to figure out what's a comfortable force.

Is 10 lbs. a comfortable force to exert over a rotation of ~300 degrees? Should it be 5 lbs.?

 

[mullins]

It depends on who you want to have turn the handle. If designing something for a child, I would go closer to the 5 lbf, but for an adult 10 lbf should suffice.

Keep in mind which axis you are rotating the handle. 10 lbf rotation is not too bad if you are rotating the handle about the vertical axis, but it could be significant if rotated around the horizontal axis.

Taking the science out of rocket science...One step at a time.