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Jerk Limited Motion Time Calculator

Work out jerk limited motion time instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Jerk Limited Motion Time Calculator

An S-curve profile ramps acceleration rather than stepping it, taking a/j seconds to reach full acceleration at each corner. That adds roughly 2 a/j to the move time but removes the acceleration discontinuity that excites structural resonance and causes overshoot.

Formula

S-curve timing

jerk phase = a / j; total time approx trapezoidal time + 2 x a/j

Worked example

With the default values below, Jerk Limited Motion Time Calculator returns Total move time of 0.69. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Move distance
200 mm
Maximum velocity
500 mm/s
Maximum acceleration
3,000 mm/s²
Maximum jerk
50,000 mm/s³

Results

Total move time
0.69 s
Jerk phase duration
0.06 s
Time added versus trapezoidal
0.12 s
Jerk-limited fraction of the move
35.0% %

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2S-curve timing
  3. 3Total move time= 0.69 s
  4. 4Jerk phase duration= 0.06 s
  5. 5Time added versus trapezoidal= 0.12 s
  6. 6Jerk-limited fraction of the move= 35.0 %

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the extra time worth it?

Usually yes. Lower jerk cuts vibration and settling time, so the net cycle time is often shorter despite the longer nominal move.

How do I choose a jerk limit?

Set it so the jerk phase is short compared with the move, and low enough that the excitation frequency stays below the structure's first resonance.

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