CYCLE TIMES

Cycle Time is the time it takes to assemble a PC Board and in this case we are dealing with the time it takes to insert the components on the PCB.

For example if you have a certain amount of Surface Mount Devices (SMD) and Thru Hole Devices (THD) on your PCB assembly ( PCBA ) and there being inserted at various machines and operations then how long will it take to do the component placements either automatically or manually.

There are two methods for calculating Cycle Times with the Unisoft software, Cycle Times by component span and Cycle Times by part number.

For calculating assembly costs click here.

Cycle Times by component span - method #1

This method calculates the cycle time by component span and is usually the preferred and easier method.

This method uses a component span template which can be used to represent time or costs and if you wish to calculate Cycle Times then the numbers used in the template represent time. These templates are located under “Assembly Cost or Cycle Times by Component Span” under the “Quote/Quality” menu.

In the figure that follows we created a template titled Cycle Time - automatic or manual insert of 1 part in seconds . So in this template we used the time required for insertion placement for 1 component in seconds (note "seconds" are preferred). So essentially this would be the time to place 1 component package in a particular category in the time unit of seconds.

Cycle_Time-automatic_or_manual_insert_of_1_part _in_seconds--template

For example for SMD components in the template table above we have listed for the component category SMT 2 (larger than 0402 package) the number 0.45 which stands for 0.45 seconds for 1 placement of that package type. So 0.45 seconds for 1 component insertion would equate to that machine placing 8,000 components in 1 hour in that category - 1 hour=3600 seconds (3600/0.45=8,000).

As an example for THD components in the template table above we have listed for the component category THD Pin=2 the number 60.00 which stands for 60 seconds for 1 placement of that package type. So 60 seconds for 1 component insertion would equate to hand placing 60 components in 1 hour in that category.

From the template window in the Unisoft software in the figure below we generated the tab delimited Excel output report for the template we created above. It breaks down the times per category for both SMD and THD device types.

Cycle_Time-automatic_or_manual_insert_of_1_part _in_seconds--report.

So in the figure above for the component category SMT 2 pins greater than 0402 package: we see that there are 5 components on the top side and 78 on the bottom with the rate of 0.45 seconds for 1 package placement and the total time required is 37.35 seconds.

In the figure above for the component category Thru-hole 2 pins: we see that there are 33 components on the top side and 0 on the bottom with the rate of 60 seconds for hand placement of 1 package and the total time required is 1980 seconds.

Cycle Times by part number - method #2

The second method for calculating cycle times is Cycle Times by part number. Note Method # 1 Cycle Times by component span is usually the preferred method.

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You can quickly create a Cycle Time by part number report. This report is used by Contract and OEM manufacturers to quickly estimate Cycle Times. The report contains the totals for the PC Board and breakdown by part number.

Sample Cycle Times by part number report:

   Total = 1973.66 seconds

   ----

   381200-40-1         1  0.90    0.90

   381212-44-1         4  60.00  240.00

   385848-05-6        32  3.60  115.20

   386754-99-4         1  40.00   40.00

   389148-06-7         1  3.60    3.60

   390579-03-3         1  90.00   90.00

   390607-01-0         1  80.00   80.00

   391727-10-9        16  0.45    7.20

   391727-12-5        16  0.36    5.76

   391727-13-3         1  0.90    0.90

   391727-14-1         5  0.90    4.50

   391729-02-0        16  0.90   14.40

   391770-01-2         1  40.00   40.00

   391770-02-0         1  0.90    0.90

   391777-06-8        11  0.90    9.90

   391777-08-4        16  0.90   14.40

   391781-01-4         2  3.60    7.20

   391809-01-6         1  40.00   40.00

   391818-06-6         3  3.60   10.80

   391822-01-2         1  3.60    3.60

   391822-02-0         1  3.60    3.60

   391822-03-9         1  3.60    3.60

   391829-03-3         1  90.00   90.00

   395382-01-7         1  90.00   90.00

   395383-01-3         1  90.00   90.00

   395422-01-9         8  0.90    7.20

   396051-01-4        16  60.00  960.00

Creating the Cycle Times by part number report:

The Cycle Time by Part Number Report uses the part numbers to group together components times to determine the total cycle time.

To use the Cycle Time by Part Number method you need to create a simple text file Library (.OPR) file with a minimum of two elements per line: 1) The part number. 2) The placement time for 1 component and it is recommended that it be in seconds.

You can have as many Library (.OPR) files as you desire. For example you can have one large Library (.OPR) file with as many Part Numbers in it as you wish or if you're a contract manufacturer one for each customer you may have.

Example of a .OPR file used for Cycle Time calculations:

   391727-10-9     Placement time for 1 component in seconds       0.45

   391727-12-5     Placement time for 1 component in seconds       0.36

   381200-40-1     Placement time for 1 component in seconds       0.90

   391727-13-3     Placement time for 1 component in seconds       0.90

In the .OPR file above the part number is in the first field followed by a TAB then the second field is the text instruction field (Example: Placement time for 1 component in seconds) and this field is optional and can be left blank. Next is another TAB and then the third field is the rate field and this field can represent either time or money and in our case here for cycle time it will represent time in seconds.

So in the example .OPR above for the part number 391727-10-9 we see that the rate is 0.45 seconds for 1 component package placement.

After you have created the .OPR file with the part numbers and rate, open the desired PC Board with the BOM imported using the Unisoft software. Next click FILE then then IMPORT LIBRARY (.OPR) and a new window will appear. In the window point to and select the .OPR file you have created and then click OPEN. Next to generate the Report click QUOTE/QUALITY from the Main then click PARTS OR ASSEMBLY COST OR CYCLE TIMES BY PART NUMBER and the report appears.

Note that to get the Assembly or Parts Cost by Part Number Report it is not required to have the actual CAD or Gerber files imported into the Unisoft software, you can import only the BOM and then import the Library (.OPR) file and then create your report from the Unisoft software. However be aware when using this method of only importing the BOM file you will usually not receive the cross-checking necessary to determine the "Do Not Install's" or any other item that may be wrong in the BOM before you generate the report.

Additional similarly related Information:

    More on Libraries.
    Also see - Assembly Cost by Component Span Report for Quoting templates menu.
     https://www.unisoft-cim.com/view-markup_download.htm#ASSIGNING_OPERATIONS_TEXT_TO_EACH_PART_NUMBER

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