Should I enter an ideal or actual cycle time?

Enter representative actual cycle time while running. An ideal time without a performance loss input can overstate the capacity you can schedule.

Do changeovers belong in stop hours?

Yes, when they occur inside the scheduled production window. Include maintenance and other planned stops on the same basis.

They are an expected quantity from an average yield. Use a conservative whole-part commitment and review variation before promising the output.

No. It estimates output in a time window. Use the die life estimator with stroke counters and an approved service limit for remaining tool life.

Tooling, Fixtures, Dies & Mold Economics calculator

Estimate good parts a tool can deliver in its scheduled window. Enter active positions, actual running cycle time, stop hours, yield and demand.

Check tooling good-part capacity against assigned demand using scheduled time, cycle time, stops and first pass yield.

Running hours = scheduled hours − stop hours
Gross running output = running hours × 3,600 ÷ running cycle seconds × parts per cycle
Good part capacity = gross running output × first pass yield ÷ 100
Stop loss = stop hours × 3,600 ÷ running cycle seconds × parts per cycle
Demand headroom = good part capacity − required good parts

Parts per Tooling Cycle: Active part positions from the die or mold layout.
Running Cycle Time: Representative actual cycle time while running from the production log.
Scheduled Tooling Hours: Planned production window before changeovers, maintenance and other stops.
Planned and Unplanned Stop Hours: Expected stops inside that production window from comparable run records.
First Pass Yield: Good parts divided by total parts for comparable runs.
Required Good Parts: Good-part demand assigned to this tool in the scheduled window.

Best suited to production window Check, tooling demand allocation.
This does not certify die life, mold life or machine suitability. A single cycle time cannot represent a mixed product schedule without a justified average.

The producer price index for plastic resins and materials stands at 280.569 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 6.6% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
The U.S. has 14,378 furniture and related products establishments employing about 355,594 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Should I enter an ideal or actual cycle time? Enter representative actual cycle time while running. An ideal time without a performance loss input can overstate the capacity you can schedule.
Do changeovers belong in stop hours? Yes, when they occur inside the scheduled production window. Include maintenance and other planned stops on the same basis.
Why are good parts fractional? They are an expected quantity from an average yield. Use a conservative whole-part commitment and review variation before promising the output.
Does this calculate the tool's remaining life? No. It estimates output in a time window. Use the die life estimator with stroke counters and an approved service limit for remaining tool life.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06.