Four way conveyor intersection

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question

Christian Wordenskjold asked Jul 14, '23 Jason Lightfoot commented Jul 18, '23

Four way conveyor intersection

Hey everybody.

I am working on a conveyor model, and have hit a snag.

The conveyor system has two directions side by side, and in some places, there will be 4-way intersections, where each item can go in one of four directions. (Counting a 'U-turn').

I had initially hoped that simply crossing the conveyors would create transfer points, but that doesn't seem to be the case, unless I am missing something.

I suspect thwere is some obvious answer for this problem, but I just haven't found it yet.

Is there anyone out there who has tried something similar, and who has any experiences to share?

Best regards

Christian

Software Version:

FlexSim 23.1.3

conveyorsystem intersections

conveyorintersection.png (118.2 KiB)

5 |100000

Attachments: Up to 12 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 23.8 MiB each and 47.7 MiB total.

Answer 1 · 2023-07-14T15:06:40Z

Jason Lightfoot answered Jul 14, '23 Jason Lightfoot commented Jul 18, '23

Can you not begin with default behavior?:

Model attached.

ConveyorInterchange.fsm

fourwayjunction.gif (1.8 MiB)

conveyorinterchange.fsm (56.8 KiB)

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Christian Wordenskjold commented · Jul 14, 2023 at 03:49 PM

Hi Jason.

Using default behavior seems like a brilliant plan. This works exactly as I intended.

I don't know why it didn't work for me earlier.

Thanks a lot.

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Jason Lightfoot ♦♦ Christian Wordenskjold commented · Jul 14, 2023 at 03:52 PM

This is more tricky than it appears - you need to precisely align all the conveyors which is almost impossible interactively using the mouse - even with snap threshold lowered. I did it by increasing the displayed decimal precision in model settings and then changing the properties fields. A better way might be to write a script to construct the layout precisely.

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Christian Wordenskjold Jason Lightfoot ♦♦ commented · Jul 14, 2023 at 04:19 PM

I agree, it is tricky, and I have realise that the alignment issue is why it didn't work in my initial model.

I will work on a script solution to place the intersection along with 1 meter of conveyor on each of the four sides.

Thanks again.

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Answer 2 · 2023-07-14T12:27:20Z

Joerg Vogel answered Jul 14, '23 Christian Wordenskjold commented Jul 14, '23

@Christian Wordenskjold , you can start with your roundabout crossing section.

conveyor_intersection_roundabout.fsm

conveyor_intersection_roundabout1to4.fsm

crossing-section-roundabout.jpg (83.1 KiB)

conveyor-intersection-roundabout.fsm (41.4 KiB)

conveyor-intersection-roundabout1to4.fsm (42.8 KiB)

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Attachments: Up to 12 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 23.8 MiB each and 47.7 MiB total.

Christian Wordenskjold commented · Jul 14, 2023 at 01:36 PM

Hi Joerg.

Thanks for taking your time with the models.

I like that idea a lot, but the system I am simulating doesn't work that way. (See below) The intersections are one of the main worries of the architects, so determining whether they will cause bottlenecks is crucial to the project.

I have also looked into a method where I used pusher-objects with custome kinematics inside the intersections. That gets the visuals, control logic and the process times right, but it also has the drawback of the conveyors being disconnected, and thus I'm not able to rely on the conveyor system for send-item-based navigation. In that case I will have to write a navigation algorithm for the intersections.

Perhaps that is simply the best way of going about it unless I find a more generic option.

Again, Thanks for your time, Joerg.

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