How to program different sources, so that their products come out at different times?

Question

question

Alejandro Cevallos asked Oct 10, '16 Logan Gold answered Oct 10, '16

How to program different sources, so that their products come out at different times?

In my simulation I have two sources, but I need the products of Source1 go out first in a certain time and after that time reached the products of Source2 can leave. In my case, I need products of Source1 go out until minute 5500 and from 5500 to 9900 minutes only the products of Source2 can go out.

In addition, all products from each source pass through a combiner, where packages are made of 20 products. I scheduled this activity using the combine mode "Pack" but the products don’t leave as packages. I would appreciate if you could help me with this doubt too.

Herewith the model.

model.fsm

Software Version:

FlexSim 7.5.4

combiner source time

image.png (2.8 KiB)

model.fsm (21.3 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 · 2016-10-10T21:13:09Z

Sam Stubbs answered Oct 10, '16

One option you can go with, is to create a Timetable for both of your sourcers. (Timetables are created in the Toolbox tab.) The functions of the time table are to create a schedule where objects have a down period or an active period. For your example I just created two timetables, one for each source. I had the first timetable (for the first source) go down from 5500 to 9900. And then the second source has a timetable which starts as "down" and then goes up at 5500.

I'm not sure what you were exactly asking about your second question. But I changed your pallet sources to actually produce pallet objects. This is just changed in the Source's properties window, under the FlowItem Class dropdown menu. This makes the boxes stack correctly when packed onto the pallet.

I've attached the model below.

2959-model.fsm

timetable.png (12.7 KiB)

2959-model.fsm (23.0 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 2 · 2016-10-10T21:15:08Z

Logan Gold answered Oct 10, '16

I suggest using the OnReset trigger and OnMessage trigger of both Sources to do what you want. I am including your model with those changes already made:

model-fs1.fsm

For Source 2, I have the OnReset trigger first close the output ports on Source 2 so product will not be allowed to flow to the Cola 2 Queue starting from time 0. I also have the OnReset trigger send a delayed message to itself (Source 2) in 5500 minutes. Then, it's just a matter of setting up the OnMessage trigger on Source 2 to open the output ports so product will start to flow to Cola 2.

For Source 1, the OnReset trigger also sends a delayed message to itself (Source 1) in 5500 minutes. This time, however, the OnMessage trigger will close the output ports on Source 1 so it no longer sends products to the Cola 1 Queue.

As for your question about using the Combiner, I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish. The Pack Combine Mode simply means the Combiner will move any flowitems coming from input port 2 and above into whatever flowitem comes through input port 1. Normally, you would want to have the flowitem coming from input port 1 (the Pallets sources in your model) be a Container Flowitem for better visuals. Otherwise, the visuals don't quite look right like how you are using a Box flowitem in your model. The Pallet and Tote are Container Flowitems that you can already use by default, or you can create new Container Flowitems in the Flowitem Bin and adjust things like the shape of the container and how things get stacked in the container.

However, if you only want one flowitem leaving the Combiner (simulating the other 20 flowitems have been boxed up or something), then I suggest using the Join Combiner Mode. The Join mode will destroy all flowitems coming in from input port 2 and above and only release the flowitem that comes through input port 1.

model-fs1.fsm (22.4 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.

question