BIZOMAT MAKEOS · Mechanics
Point-to-Point Move Time
How long does this axis or conveyor move take with the given speed and acceleration?
Move time for a trapezoidal (or triangular) velocity profile with equal acceleration and deceleration, with the force needed to accelerate the moving mass.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Move distance | mm | Length of the move. |
| Maximum speed | mm/s | Speed limit of the axis, drive or process. |
| Acceleration (= deceleration) | mm/s² | Acceleration the drive can deliver and the load can tolerate. |
| Moving mass | kg | Total moving mass including carriage, tooling and product. |
What each input means
Open an input to see what it is, its units, the worked example and the common mistakes, with a small diagram.
What this means: Move distance
- What it is
- The length of one point-to-point move, from start position to end position.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm: millimetres. The form accepts 0.000001 mm to 10000000 mm. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 500 mm as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Get it right
- Use the actual travel of the axis or conveyor, not the stroke of the whole machine.
What this means: Maximum speed
- What it is
- The highest speed the axis is allowed to reach during the move, set by the drive, the mechanism or the process.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm/s: millimetres per second. The form accepts 0.000001 mm/s to 10000000 mm/s. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 1000 mm/s as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Get it right
- If the move is too short, the axis never reaches this speed and the tool reports a triangular profile.
What this means: Acceleration (= deceleration)
- What it is
- The rate at which the axis speeds up at the start and slows down at the end; the tool uses the same value for both.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in mm/s²: mm/s². The form accepts 0.000001 mm/s² or more. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 5000 mm/s² as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Higher acceleration shortens the move time and raises the acceleration force in proportion.
- Get it right
- Enter mm/s², not m/s²: 1 m/s² is 1000 mm/s².
What this means: Moving mass
- What it is
- The total mass the drive must accelerate: carriage, tooling, gripper and product together. It is used only for the acceleration force.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in kg: kilograms. The form accepts 0 kg to 1000000 kg. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 20 kg as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- The acceleration force rises in proportion to the mass; the move time does not change.
- Get it right
- The force shown excludes friction, gravity on vertical axes and process forces; add them before sizing a drive.
Method and formulas
- If L ≥ v²/a the profile is trapezoidal: t = L ÷ v + v ÷ a.
- Otherwise it is triangular: t = 2√(L ÷ a) and the peak speed is √(a L).
- Acceleration force = m × a (friction and gravity excluded).
- Example: 500 mm at up to 1000 mm/s and 5000 mm/s² takes 0.7 s.
Limitations
- Constant acceleration; jerk limits and settling time lengthen real moves.
- Friction, gravity on vertical axes and process forces are not included in the force.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Estimate pick-and-place or axis cycle times
- Check whether an axis reaches top speed
- Size the acceleration force for a drive
Who it is for
- Automation engineers
- Machine designers
What you get
- Move time
- Profile type and peak speed
- Acceleration time and distance
- Acceleration force
Interpreting the result
- Add settling and dwell time for the total cycle.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 175–180. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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