New to FlexSim, creating a conveyor flow with a travel kit

[rlnmz12]

[ FlexSim 22.1.4 ]

Hi,

I am currently super new to FlexSIM.

At my company, we are changing our manual conveyor to an automatic conveyor.

I was wondering if it's possible to create a process flow where we receive one cabinet from a source, then a travel kit (another cabinet where all the parts for assembly are located) its being received from another conveyor connecting the main conveyor. The Kit goes first, then the cabinet, then another kit goes first then another cabinet. I can't seem to be able to merge one and one when connecting conveyors.

Is this possible? I don't want exponential feed from the source, I need the cabinet and kit to always come at the same time and then go one on one.

Pretty much the image that I attached it's how it would look like. Red line represents the first traveling kit. It comes in then the cabinet (green) goes behind, and so on, until the first traveling kits goes out then a second traveling kit goes in and it repeats. The belt conveyor its a buffer zone that I need to create before a turning table and repeat all over again. Whole idea is having 3 different zones with 3 different speeds.

Its this something doable? In real life, the operator will be performing his job while the cabinet its moving, walking with it.

[Jacob_White]

Hi @RLNMZ12,

Is this what you are trying to do with the kits and cabinets?

[rlnmz12]

Hi, not precisely. The pallet its being fed by source "Travel Kits" and the dryer by source "Cabinets" Pallet goes to the right of dryer. Then the pallet has to exit through the conveyor (red) and the dryer has to go to the next area (belt conveyor). Thats the main idea. I have been playing with "triggers" and decision points but I haven't been able to separate them yet. Being learning a lot from this software in the last 24 hours. I believe Im super close to get it, but can't still figure it out.

[rlnmz12]

I was able to do what I wanted to do. Now, I want to ask another question I guess. Is it possible at a decision point to wait for an item to come from the conveyor in order to release it? Different travel kits need to travel along with the machine at different times.

[jason_lightfootVL7B4]

You can stop, resume and reroute items on conveyors at decision points (including photo eyes and stations). You can also mount items inside each other and you can reference other objects with pointer labels. Furthermore you can synchronize activities by waiting for events and pushing/pulling from lists. If you could more clearly explain your requirement, and maybe attach a model, then we could suggest which of these might be best for your application. (You can toggle the post as private if needed for attaching a model).

[jason_lightfootVL7B4]

Hi @RLNMZ12,

We haven't heard back from you. Were you able to solve your problem? If so, please add and accept an answer to let others know the solution. Or please respond to the previous comment so that we can continue to help you.

If we don't hear back in the next 3 business days, we'll assume you were able to solve your problem and we'll close this case in our tracker. You can always comment back at any time to reopen your question, or you can contact your local FlexSim distributor for phone or email help.

[rlnmz12]

Hi,

I just attached my model. Basically, what I want to do is, T.K. STATION 1 should wait for a unit to be closer to the conveyor intersection, then come in. In real life, I would like to leave one feet of separation.

Right before reaching the buffer area (which I displayed as a belt conveyor) the kit will go out. The buffer area (belt conveyor) will be at a higher speed, causing units to built up. Then after this, the conveyor will release machines at a lower speed. Operator 2 its a repair bay. I sent them to a sink but in reality, it would need to go back and catch up with a travel kit once it rotates. The second T.K. Station 02 would need to wait for a machine in order to advance. Then eventually will get out empty and a third one will come in, again, with a 1 foot separation.

Ideally, the unit won't stop to wait for the travel kit to go in. My idea would be some sort of decision point, that when it crosses, it triggers the conveyor to push the travel kit in. Any help would be very much appreciated.

project01.fsm

[rlnmz12]

Hi, sorry for my late response. I stopped this project for about a week, but now Im back on it. I responded on another answer. Hopefully you can help me out. Thank you so much.

[jason_lightfootVL7B4]

First of all you need to pay attention to the exceptions shown in the system console - they are telling you there are problems with the model - the first is when you reset the model:

MODEL:/DP6>variables/onArrival Line 119        syntax error, unexpected '}' check for the proper number of parentheses/braces 

Next, you're trying to access the label "Tote01" on the pallet arriving at DP1 - that label does not exist. Why are you even accessing it when the destination by case is always the outobject?:

Where should the tote go? Where should the pallet go? If you want to test for the Tote01 label existing then put a '?' after the case function expression.

[rlnmz12]

I already cleared that bracket which was created on its own in the code.

Then, Tote01 was created in "Travel Kit Station 01", now I out the object at DP1 onto DP2 (StraightConveyor9). I don't know if any of this is right, but that is the ONLY way based on my vague knowledge, where I am able to get that box out of the main conveyor onto "Sink1".

[jason_lightfootVL7B4]

It looks like you should do the training and tutorials.

Here's the tote arriving at DP1 - you see it has a label called Tote01 with a value :1 which is used for the case statement's value case 1.

But you only have case 'Default' you don't list case 1 so the label is irrelevant.

Then this pallet arrives which you can see doesn't even have a label called Tote01, so the trigger complains and generates an exception - since it has nothing to test.

If you want to sent totes to the sink then don't use the case option but just send the item with a condition that references the tote label:

Be sure to include the '?' after the label name which allows it to progress without an exception even when the label does not exist (on the pallet).

project01_jl.fsm

[Jeanette_Fullmer]

Hi @RLNMZ12,

We haven't heard back from you. Were you able to solve your problem? If so, please add and accept an answer to let others know the solution. Or please respond to the previous comment so that we can continue to help you.

If we don't hear back in the next 3 business days, we'll assume you were able to solve your problem and we'll close this case in our tracker. You can always comment back at any time to reopen your question, or you can contact your local FlexSim distributor for phone or email help.

[rlnmz12]

Hi, I wasn't able to fully resolve my issues but its fine as full training was required and we didn't have enough time. We have dropped the software in our company for this project. We will leave all this to the actual supplier to figure out.

Thank you so much for your help.