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Building TimeTable Model

Begin a new model by clicking the button on the toolbar. Click OK on the Model Units window, we will use the default units for our model.

If at any time you encounter difficulties while building this model, a fully functional tutorial model can be found at http://www.flexsim.com/tutorials

Step 1: Create the Objects

• Drag objects from your Library Icon Grid onto the 3D View to create the model shown below.

Connect all of the objects as shown:

• Connect Source1 to Queue2.
• Connect Queue2 to Processor3 and Processor4.
• Connect Processor3 and Processor4 to Queue5.
• Connect Dispatcher6 to Operator8 and Operator9.
• Connect Queue2 to Operator10 with a centerport connection (S key).
• Connect Processor3 and Processor4 to Dispatcher6 with a centerport connection (S key).

Step 2: Setup the Queue and Processors

One operator will transport flowitems from Queue2 to the two processors. The other two operators will be used to process flowitems at the two processors and to transport flowitems from the processors to Queue5.

• Click on Queue2 to open its properties in the Quick Properties window.
• Under the Flow section, check Use Transport and leave it using the default centerobject option.

• Open the properties window of Processor3.
• On the Processor tab, check Use Operator(s) for Process and leave it using the default centerobject option.

• Go to the Flow tab.
• Check Use Transport and leave it using the default centerobject option.
• Go to the Triggers tab.
• Click the add button for the OnProcessFinish trigger.
• Select the Set Color option and leave it on the default options.

Note: You can switch quickly between processors (or other similar objects) by clicking on the left and right arrow buttons at the bottom of any properties window.

• Repeat the last set of steps for Processor4.
• Click OK to apply and close the properties window.

Reset and run the model to make sure the operators are taking the boxes from Queue2 to the processors, processing the boxes and then taking them to Queue5. The boxes should also be changing color after processing.

Step 3: Create a TimeTable

We will now create a TimeTable for Operator10.

• Add a new Time Table from the Toolbox (View > Toolbox or click on the Tools button in the main toolbar).
• Rename the TimeTable to Operator 10 Break.
• Go the Members tab and click the button to add a member. Highlight Operator10 and click Select.
• Go to the Table tab and in row 1 of the table, set Time to 200, set State to 12, and set Duration to 30.
• Set the Repeat to Custom and change the value to 200. This will cause the operator to go on break every 200 seconds.
• Go to the Functions tab and in the pick list for the Down Function, select Travel to Location, Delay Until Down Time Complete. Change only the Location to 2, -8, 0. These are the x, y and z coordinates, respectively, that the operator will go to while on break.

• In the pick list for the Resume Function, select Do Nothing.
• Click OK to apply and close the TimeTable window.

Reset and Run your model. When you run you model, at 200 seconds you will see that the operator walks away from the work area for 30 seconds and then returns to work.

Note: If the operator is in the middle of a task, he will complete the task before starting his down time.

Step 4: Update the TimeTable

We can also have the operator break to a specific object instead of a set of coordinates.

• Create a Network Node object and place it away from your work area.
• Go back to your Operator 10 Break TimeTable.
• In the pick list for the Down Function, select Travel to Object, Delay Until Down Time Complete. Change the Destination Name to NN1.

• Leave the pick list for the Resume Function on Do Nothing.
• Click OK to apply and close the TimeTable window.
• Reset and Run your model and notice that the operator will go to NN1.

WARNING: The duration of your operator's break will be the time he spends at that location. If he takes 10 seconds to walk there, he will still break for 30 seconds once he gets there. Adding in his 10 second journey back, he will total 50 seconds taken between finishing his last task and starting his new one.

Step 5: Schedule Maintenance for the Processor

Next, we will give Processor3 a scheduled downtime for maintenance.

• Add another TimeTable.
• Rename the TimeTable to Processor Down Time.
• Add the member Processor3.
• Under the Table tab, in Row 1 of the table, set Time to 200, set State to 12 and set Duration to 100.
• Set the Repeat Time to Custom, 300. This will cause the processor to go down every 300 seconds after the initial maintenance.
• In the pick list for the Down Function, select Stop Input.
• In the pick list for the Resume Function, select Resume Input.

Stopping and resuming the object's input will mean that it will continue to process any item that is currently in it, but will not receive anymore items until the down time is done. If you leave the TimeTable at the default Stop/Resume Object, the processor will stop with or without an item in it and not resume until the down time is complete.

• Click OK to apply and close the TimeTable window.

Reset and run your model. Your model should look something like this:

This completes the TimeTables tutorial. Congratulations!