Problem using Combiner and schedule

[luis_rodrigues]

[ FlexSim 24.1.0 ]

Hi,

I here asking for help to do a simple simulation work.

In the model I have 4 types of queues for 4 types of material, a combiner and then a storage.

In the excel file I have the time when a specific recipe is needed and the composition of it.

I've already imported the recipes composition but now I need help to do the rest.

I will send the model and the excel file.

Thanks,

Luís Rodrigues

25-03 ML00 Model.xlsx

Modelo ML00.fsm

[moehlmann_fe · Accepted solution]

Maybe start by reading up on how the combiner works.

https://docs.flexsim.com/en/24.0/Reference/3DObjects/FixedResources/Combiner/Combiner.html

https://www.flexsim.com/videos/basic-combiner-use-2/

It always has to receive an item though its first input port, which will serve as the container for the other items, before it will open its other inputs.

There is an option available in the On Entry trigger that changes the component list to match columns in a global table based on a label on the container item.

You can use this in your model. Create a container item at the specified time and write the recipe it should use to a label on it.

I have attached an example that showcases everything you should need.

combiner-recipe-example-fm.fsm

[luis_rodrigues]

Your answer was really helpful. I change my model like yours and I also added a label to ProcessTime but now when I run the model the combiner shows as blocked.

Modelo ML00.fsm

[moehlmann_fe]

The default slot dimensions of the floor storage are too small for the pallets (the height of the storage object is also taken into account).

Either adjust the slot sizes, make the "Slot Assignment Strategy" ignore the spacing constraint or maybe even just use a Queue instead of the storage.

Other issues in your model:

The four queues in front of the combiner can currently only hold 1000 items each. More than 12.000 "R1" items will be used before any of the types are needed, so the Source will eventually become blocked because it can't output one of the other types.

While you could increase the queue's capacity, the model will become very slow if you have thousands of items (which is also why you should think about eventually deleting the output of the combiner.

What you could also do is to set the Send to Port option of the source back to "First Available" and move the label assignation to the Entry triggers of the queues (with each queue assigning a different, fixed value).

[luis_rodrigues]

Thanks for your help.

Right now I have another problem. I have set the quantities for each recipe in the table "recipe" but each box from the materials have different quantities. Like for example, the box from FMF should have a standard quantity of 1000 (kg) and if the last box from the specific recipe havent been fully consumed, the transporter should take it out of the queue to a sink.

(I think it should be something like creating a label on the flowitem bin with the weight)

And complementing, the queue should only have the material necessary for that specific recipe.

I hope you can help me

Modelo ML00 V3.fsm

[moehlmann_fe]

Maybe take a look at the model in the post below. It deals with a similar topic.

The model uses a special function of lists to deduct a pulled quantity from a label on an item.

https://answers.flexsim.com/questions/162635/take-a-certain-quantity-out-of-box-until-it-is-emp.html...

[luis_rodrigues]

I didn't understand how that topic is related to mine

[moehlmann_fe]

You want your items to represent a preset quantity of material. The same is happening in the linked post. Starting from 360s, the operator starts to remove batches from each boxes, decrementing the "Content" label in the process.

Isn't that (part of) what you want to achieve?

​It doesn't resemble your current model, but the combiner can only work with discrete objects. To implement the logic you describe you won't get around using Process Flow (or a lot of self-written code).

[luis_rodrigues]

So using process flow I can make the combiner work with non discrete objects?

[moehlmann_fe]

Sort of. With Process Flow, you'd design custom logic that collects the required quantities of material. Where you unload them to doesn't really matter at that point.