topic Re: Best way to sim a long MDR (Motor Driven) conveyor with very close photo-eyes? in FlexSim Forum

Best way to sim a long MDR (Motor Driven) conveyor with very close photo-eyes?

sofia_garciarojas — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 15:07:13 GMT

[ FlexSim 22.2.0 ]

I need to build a series of conveyors (all very long and intertwined), with MDR logic. However, it becomes tricky, when the photoeyes that control the motors are extremely close together. Any suggestions?

Re: Best way to sim a long MDR (Motor Driven) conveyor with very close photo-eyes?

jason_lightfoot_adsk — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:24:31 GMT

These types of conveyor can often be simplified eg by using the stopping and moving space properties of a single long conveyor:

mdrConveyorWithoutPhotoeyes.fsm

If you need to replicate and verify the real control logic then it will be harder and obviously as tricky as it is in reality (or more so).

Re: Best way to sim a long MDR (Motor Driven) conveyor with very close photo-eyes?

sofia_garciarojas — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 17:59:43 GMT

Thanks Jason! I appreciate the help!

My only question would be... if the items are different sizes, could I enter a variable referencing a table or something similar for the stopping/moving distance? Or how could I approach that?

Re: Best way to sim a long MDR (Motor Driven) conveyor with very close photo-eyes?

jason_lightfoot_adsk — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:32:54 GMT

You can make the spacing independent of the item size or a function of the item size or a combination of the two. The limitation is that you can't base it on the previous item's size which would be useful for some cases.

The model I uploaded behaves like this with variable item sizes (1 metre fixed spacing from the leading edge):

Re: Best way to sim a long MDR (Motor Driven) conveyor with very close photo-eyes?

jason_lightfoot_adsk — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 22:08:30 GMT

Here's a comparison of two methods - one using the spacing as described above and another using decision points with restricted areas to have the item centres stop 1 metre apart.

mdrConveyor_mixedItemsSizes.fsm

Re: Best way to sim a long MDR (Motor Driven) conveyor with very close photo-eyes?

sofia_garciarojas — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 14:00:02 GMT

Thanks so much for the help Jason. You were very clear and very helpful. I appreciate it!