Tooling, Fixtures, Dies & Mold Economics worked example

Die Sharpening Interval at 99% expected press uptime over the interval: a worked example

Push expected press uptime over the interval up to 99% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when die sharpening interval in tooling, fixtures, dies and mold economics is being asked to take on more work and you need to know if there is room.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Parts stamped per die stroke: 4 units / cycle (unchanged)
  • Strokes available before scheduled sharpening: 480 cycles (unchanged)
  • Expected press uptime over the interval: 99 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 90)
  • Expected first-pass yield between sharpenings: 97 % (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Gross die sharpening interval capacity = die sharpening interval output per cycle × available die sharpening interval cycles) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,844 units for good die sharpening interval capacity, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,920 units for gross die sharpening interval capacity.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 19.2 units for die sharpening interval downtime loss.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 57.02 units for die sharpening interval yield loss.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where expected press uptime over the interval sits at 90% and the headline result is 1,676 units, this scenario comes in 10% above the baseline at 1,844 units.
  • It computes the good-part capacity a die yields over one sharpening interval by derating gross stroke output for uptime and first-pass yield. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Good die sharpening interval capacity: 1,844 units (headline result)
  • Gross die sharpening interval capacity: 1,920 units
  • Die sharpening interval downtime loss: 19.2 units
  • Die sharpening interval yield loss: 57.02 units

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Die Sharpening Interval calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.