question

Harrison Hart avatar image
0 Likes"
Harrison Hart asked Jeff Nordgren answered

Setting priority on combiner.

baseline-rev-4-combiner-trial.fsmI have a model in which I have 4 flowitems moving from a separator to one of two combiners. I wish to have all four items delivered to the combiner at once and to always be delivered to the combiner on the left.

The combiner on the right should only ever be used when the combiner on the left is already processing.

How best would I be able to make this happen, it is likely that i will be using a coordinated task sequence to transport the goods from the queue to the combiners if that changes anything.

I have attached a copy of my model to this question so that you can get a better feel for the question.

FlexSim 16.2.0
combinercoordinated task sequenceprioritizationcombiner separatorpriorty
5 |100000

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

Sam Stubbs avatar image
1 Like"
Sam Stubbs answered

Normally using "First Available" would work for the combiners. But because of the logic of how combiners receive items from ports, they receive one item from the batch, it closes it's port until the next task is being sent, but because the port is closed, it automatically goes to the next one (the right combiner.)

However, if you would like the items to move as a single group, rather than batching them, you could convert Queue 4 into a combiner, and combine them into an item that moves as a group. This will fix this issue.

Although, it seems superfluous to separate the four objects only to then combine/batch them again. So unless you have some logic in your model that requires work on the individual items between the time they are "separated" and the time they are combined/batched. I would just remove the combiner and create a single flow item that looks like/ represents the batched items. If you are always moving and treating the group together, just make them a single item.

5 |100000

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

Jeff Nordgren avatar image
2 Likes"
Jeff Nordgren answered

@Harrison Hart

Harrison,

Attached is your model with the changes that were made to do what is described by Sam's reply. Which is to replace Queue4 (and Separator3) and replace them with a combiner. This way you could separate them later, if needed. Or you can consider the second option Sam suggests.

baseline-rev-4-combiner-trial-jn1.fsm

The model seems to do what you are describing. Would something like this work for you?


5 |100000

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