Which part of the cycle is process dwell?

The stationary time when the tooling does its work, such as a press closing, a weld firing or a fill valve opening. It counts in full even though nothing moves.

How does index angle affect cycle time?

A larger index angle gives the move more time, which lowers peak acceleration and can shorten settle. Check the cam or servo curve before trading move time for locating accuracy.

Can the steps overlap to raise output?

Sometimes. Handling that overlaps the dwell, or a second tool station working through the move, removes time from the cycle. Each change needs a motion study before it earns credit.

Why compare with required output, not takt?

Required output is what the schedule asks this machine to deliver in an hour. Takt paces a whole line, so check the machine's own cycle here before line balancing.

Conveyors calculator

Indexing Conveyor Cycle Calculator

Add the move, settle, dwell and handling times of one index cycle, then convert the total into an hourly output rate. Compare that rate with what the machine must deliver.

What this calculator does

The seconds one index cycle takes and the units per hour it supports against the output the schedule requires.

Formula used

Total indexing cycle = index move + settle and locate + process dwell + load and unload
Cycle output = 3,600 ÷ total indexing cycle in seconds
Output gap = required output − cycle output

Inputs explained

Index Move Time: Time the indexer needs to advance one station.
Settle and Locate Time: Time for vibration to stop and the table to locate.
Required Process Dwell Time: Stationary process time required at each index position.
Load and Unload Handling Time: Loading a new part and unloading the finished one.
Required Output: Units per hour the schedule needs from the machine.

How to use the result

Best suited to sizing an index table for a rate, comparing a cam index to a servo, checking a process dwell requirement.
One index station; multiple stops per cycle need a rate per stop. A mechanical rate that leaves out rejects, starvation and breaks.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The U.S. has 21,668 machinery manufacturing establishments employing about 1,086,146 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

Which part of the cycle is process dwell? The stationary time when the tooling does its work, such as a press closing, a weld firing or a fill valve opening. It counts in full even though nothing moves.
How does index angle affect cycle time? A larger index angle gives the move more time, which lowers peak acceleration and can shorten settle. Check the cam or servo curve before trading move time for locating accuracy.
Can the steps overlap to raise output? Sometimes. Handling that overlaps the dwell, or a second tool station working through the move, removes time from the cycle. Each change needs a motion study before it earns credit.
Why compare with required output, not takt? Required output is what the schedule asks this machine to deliver in an hour. Takt paces a whole line, so check the machine's own cycle here before line balancing.

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.