Abstract: A portable self-contained testing apparatus is provided for accurately determining the stopping time of a press after the initiating of a STOP signal. The apparatus includes a detector head, a stationary grid, a synchronizing touch switch, and a control box with a digital readout. The detector head is mounted on the press ram to be movable therewith while the stationary grid member is mounted proximate to the detector to allow the detector to scan the grid lines on the grid as the ram moves. The touch switch is used to initiate the press STOP control signal and provides a signal to the control box to initiate grid count by the detector head whenever the press STOP signal is initiated through the touch switch. The control box has circuitry to convert the grid count signals from the detector head and the press STOP signals from the touch switch to a digital readout of the time required for the press to actually stop after the initiation of the press STOP signal.