Work out robot cycle time instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Cycle time is the sum of every serial element — moves, gripper actuation and process dwell — divided by availability to account for stoppages. Parts per hour is 3,600 divided by that figure, and the biggest gains usually come from overlapping the process dwell with robot motion rather than speeding the robot up.
Cycle time
effective cycle = (moves + grip + process) / availability; rate = 3600 / cycle
In gripper actuation and settling, and in waiting for the process. Robot motion is often already near its acceleration limit.
Because micro-stoppages, part jams and reject handling consume real time. Ideal cycle times never match measured throughput.