Often, the key to success in automating a process is in finding the optimum way of moving components from point A to point B.  Years of experience in Custom Material Handling have afforded Isthmus the opportunity to perfect a variety of transfer technologies. Dial Index Transfer  Often used for discrete assembly applications, dial index assembly projects allow for the use of a common fixture, mounted on a rotary dial, to move through a series of synchronous operations. Dial index transfer is used when the dwell time required for each operation is balanced.  Dial index transfer allows for smooth motion with controlled acceleration and decelerations, and can handle high loads and high speeds with very repeatable, accurate positioning. Inline Index Transfer Like dial index assembly, traditional inline assembly allows for the use of a common fixture to move a product through successive stages of synchronous operations.  Inline transfer provides an alternative to dial index assembly for those spaces that are more suited to an inline footprint.  An inline system is well suited for high production rates and heavy duty applications. Continuous Motion Transfer As the name implies, continuous motion transfer offers a nonstop motion, which eliminates the acceleration needed to transfer parts from a conveyor to another platform, such as a dial. Because the parts never lose contact with the tooling handling them, this type of transfer is very smooth, which can protect assemblies and fragile parts. Isthmus has delivered continuous motion transfer machines operating in excess of 600 parts per minute. Continuous-motion assembly equipment offers many advantages when compared with intermittent-motion systems, including improved product quality and increased output rates. Process requirements and suitable part design must be considered for this type of transfer. Power and Free Asynchronous Transfer Power and Free transfer allows for different dwell times for various steps of assembly of a product.  Each component is transferred through the system on its own individual pallet. This approach allows for free float to accommodate varying station times.  Asynchronous systems typically run at a slower throughput rate than indexing systems listed above.