Operator not moving to a processor during setup time

[sumana_p]

[ FlexSim 18.1.1 ]

sdfe.fsm

Hey everyone, I am trying to make the F operator work on processor M and simultaneously work on setup time of another processor (Processor1 to Processor6). But the operator does not move towards the processor which requires setup, he always stays at the processor M. I also want the objects traveling from Processor1-Processor6 to come back to M but they are not (this should happen in a loop of 8). Can someone please help me with this? Please help me understand what the different options I see for sampling the operator for setup time, I don't see how each of them are different when the simulation is running. @Joshua S

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[joshua_s · Accepted solution]

When you assign an operator to help with setup time, they actually don't go over to a machine to help set it up in general. To simulate this you can add process flow activity block that will simulate the operator going over and help it setup. . Also you've changed the names of your operators which now do not match the reference names you are using to pick your operators in your processors. Some of your processors are also referencing operators by a center port connection but none of the operators are connected to any of the processors.

[sumana_p]

Okay, sorry forgot about the changed operator names, got it sorted out now. So the operator generally doesn't go to the processor for setup but while analyzing the operator movement, does the pie graph indicate operator movement with setup time inclusively? What is a center port connection? are you suggesting that operator should be connected to each of the processors seperately?

[joshua_s]

Sorry, I was completely wrong when I said an operator does not go over to a processor for setup time.

A center port connection is like and A connection, but you hold down s to make it. Center port connections are made to connect 3D objects like transporters and operators, but aren't connecting them port to port.

Could you upload your updated model?

[sumana_p]

here you gosdfe.fsm

[joshua_s]

I made the connections so that the operator is connected to the processors 1-6. The issue is your source is always producing product, so when the part is finished being processed on Processor W, immediately there is a part for the operator to setup for. Also it doesn't work when there are more than 1 parts being processed on a processor and having an operator working on those parts or setting up for them.13505-sdfe.fsm

[sumana_p]

I changed the item creation time at the source to 1 hour and still, the operator does not move to processor 1-6 for setup. Also, is it possible to keep a limit on the number of items produced by the source? I want only 12 items coming from the source.

[joshua_s]

You can change this by changing the Arrival Style as shown in the picture below and have 12 arrivals all at different times.

The main reason the operator is not being used for setup times is your references for the setup times.

either you have

model().find("F Operator").as(Object).stats.input.value

or

model().find("F Operator").subnodes.length

set for the setup times, which throughout the entire model time, is 0.

[sumana_p]

I used this and it worked, thank you so much.

current.centerObjects[1].stats.state().value

Can you please tell how I can make this process happen in loop of 8 like I asked in the initial question.

[joshua_s]

The loop is working on mine, where is it stopping on yours?

[sumana_p]

I meant how did you make it run in a loop, I wanna learn how you did it, and also the loop is not stopping after 8, looks like an infinite loop. Sorry didn't frame the question right. I want the items sent to a sink after 8 loops.

[joshua_s]

I think after all the changes you made to the references and such it started working, don't know the exact reason why it would have began working. to make it go to a sink you can create a label on the created items called "loop" then on Processor M set an on enter trigger to increment the label "loop" by 1. then on processors 1-6 connect them to a sink, and set the "Send to Port" to conditional based on the loop label.

[sumana_p]

I did just like you said, the label is not increasing by 1 after passing through processor M

13507-13505-sdfe.fsm

[joshua_s]

Here's the file with all the changes

13521-13507-13505-sdfe.fsm