BIZOMAT MAKEOS · Mechanics
Pusher or Transfer Move Check (Motion Profile, Force, Stop Impact)
What acceleration, speed and force does my pusher need to move this part over the stroke in the time I want, and how hard will it hit if it stops against a hard stop at full speed?
Check of a pusher, transfer or shuttle moving a part over a stroke in a set time with a symmetric accelerate–decelerate (triangular) profile: acceleration, peak speed and the distance covered at peak speed (as the uniformly accelerated motion tool), the force to accelerate the part against sliding friction and the braking force, peak power, and the average impact force if the part is instead stopped at full speed by a hard stop in the stop time (as the impulse and momentum tool), against the actuator force and the stop’s allowable load.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Moving mass (part and slide) | kg | Mass being moved, including the slide or carriage. |
| Stroke | m | Length of the move. |
| Move time | s | Time for the whole move, start to stop. |
| Sliding friction coefficient | Friction coefficient between the part and its guide or table. | |
| Stop time if it hits a hard stop | s | Time over which a hard stop brings the part from full speed to rest (compression of the stop). |
| Limits | ||
| Actuator force available | N | Force the cylinder or drive can push with. |
| Allowable load on the stop | N | Largest force the end stop and its mounting may take. |
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: Moving mass (part and slide)
- What it is
- Everything the actuator has to accelerate and stop: the part plus the slide, carriage, pusher head and any moving fixture.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in kg: kilograms. The form accepts 0.000001 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
- Pushing force, peak power and hard-stop force all rise in proportion to mass.
- Get it right
- Include the moving parts of the actuator and slide, not only the workpiece; they are often heavier than the part.
What this means: Stroke
- What it is
- The length of the move from start position to end position, the distance the part travels.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in m: metres. The form accepts 0.000001 m to 100 m. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 0.3 m as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- For the same move time, a longer stroke raises acceleration and peak speed in proportion.
- Get it right
- Enter metres, not millimetres: a 300 mm stroke is 0.3 m.
What this means: Move time
- What it is
- The time allowed for the whole move from standstill to standstill, accelerating over the first half and decelerating over the second.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in s: seconds. The form accepts 0.01 s to 1000 s. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 0.6 s as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Acceleration rises with the inverse square of the move time, so halving it needs four times the acceleration.
- Get it right
- Use the move time only, not the full machine cycle with dwell and return.
What this means: Sliding friction coefficient
- What it is
- The coefficient of sliding friction between the moving part or slide and the surface or guide it slides on.
- Units and format
- Enter a plain number with no unit. The form accepts 0 to 2. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 0.3 as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Friction adds μ m g to the pushing force and helps the braking.
- Get it right
- Use the sliding (kinetic) value for the actual pair of surfaces and lubrication, from the guide maker or a test.
What this means: Stop time if it hits a hard stop
- What it is
- The time a rigid end stop takes to bring the moving mass from peak speed to rest if the drive fails to decelerate it, set by how much the stop and its mounting compress.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in s: seconds. The form accepts 0.0001 s to 10 s. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 0.01 s as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Effect on the result
- Hard-stop force is inversely proportional to this time.
- Get it right
- Enter seconds; a stiff metal stop stops the load in a very short time, which gives a very large force.
Limits
What this means: Actuator force available
- What it is
- The force the cylinder, linear actuator or drive can deliver to push the load, at the working supply pressure or motor current.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in N: newtons. The form accepts 0.000001 N to 100000000 N. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 1000 N as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
- Get it right
- For a pneumatic cylinder use the force at the real working pressure, allowing for seal friction, not the catalogue theoretical force.
What this means: Allowable load on the stop
- What it is
- The largest force the end stop and its mounting may take without damage, from the stop maker or your own strength check of the bracket.
- Units and format
- Enter a number in N: newtons. The form accepts 0.000001 N or more. Required: the tool does not calculate until every input is valid.
- Example
- The form opens with 5000 N as a worked example. It is an illustration, not a recommended value: replace it with your own figure.
Method and formulas
- Triangular profile: a = 4s ÷ t², peak speed = 2s ÷ t, reached at half the time and half the stroke (as the uniformly accelerated motion tool).
- Pushing force = m (a + μ g); braking force = m (a − μ g); peak power = pushing force × peak speed.
- Hard-stop force = m × peak speed ÷ stop time (as the impulse and momentum tool).
- Example: 3.3333 m/s² to 1 m/s needs 125.51 N; hitting a hard stop at full speed would give 2,000 N.
Limitations
- Rigid part and slide; compliance and cushioning change the forces.
- Triangular profile; a trapezoidal profile with a cruise phase needs higher acceleration for the same time.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Size an actuator for a pusher or shuttle
- Check what happens if a part overruns into a stop
- Choose a move time for a transfer
Who it is for
- Automation engineers
- Machine designers
- Maintenance engineers
What you get
- Acceleration and peak speed
- Pushing force, braking force and power
- Impact force at a hard stop
Interpreting the result
- Halving the move time quadruples the acceleration force and doubles the impact speed.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 175–186. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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Open the Pusher or Transfer Move Check (Motion Profile, Force, Stop Impact) calculator