question

Jason V2 avatar image
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Jason V2 asked Joerg Vogel commented

Use Operator or Staff to run Transporter?

I'm wondering if it's possible to use a Staff member to "operate" a transporter?

In my example, I have an operator that is occasionally required to use any available forklift to transport pallets across the factory. This is in addition to doing other tasks that do no require a forklift.

When the process flow starts, I would like the operator to walk to the forklift, use the forklift to transport the item, and then have the operator and forklift be "released" for another use.

I can make all of this "work" by having the operator travel to the forklift, but if the forklift finishes in a different spot than it started, the operator is in the wrong position.

I'll work on building a simple model to demonstrate what I'm trying to accomplish, but figured I'd ask in case someone has a quick and easy solution!

FlexSim 20.0.0
operatortransporter
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1 Answer

zacharyh avatar image
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zacharyh answered Joerg Vogel commented

@Jason V2

In FlexSim a Transporter is considered a separate Task Executer than the Operator (Staff Member.) So it is not necessarily possible to make a Staff member "operate" a transporter.

Using Process Flow you might be able to visually hide the first operator while the Transporter does it's work and then be able to unhide the operator when the Forklift returns.

Another tool that can be used in Process Flow is the Synchronize task. You could Synchronize the movements of a Forklift with the Operator.

Once you have a sample model made to better demonstrate your purpose, please send it over and we can try our best to solve the problem you're facing.


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Jason V2 avatar image Jason V2 commented ·

Thanks for the reply Zachary. I've got a workable solution right now in that I have the forklift return to the same spot after the task completes, which is where the operator is still waiting. I can hide the operator during that time to help with a visual perspective.

I can't share the model I'm working on publicly, but will also try the synchronize activity to see if it will do what I need.

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zacharyh avatar image zacharyh ♦ Jason V2 commented ·

Let me know how that goes. If further help is needed you can create a Private question where only us at Tech Support can see your question.

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Patrick Cloutier avatar image Patrick Cloutier commented ·

I'm doing like you suggested: My operator walks to the lift, then "hides", then the lift does its things and when it comes back, I "unhide" the operator.

Now I'd like to be able to switch the lift truck operator visuals on/off. See picture. Any way to do this through a command?

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screenshot-2020-11-25-124523.jpg (83.4 KiB)
zacharyh avatar image zacharyh ♦ Patrick Cloutier commented ·

There is a command that can be used to hide the man in the Transporter, switch_hideshape(). " A value of 1 is hide, a value of 0 is show ".

I was able to use that command and hide the operator on the transporter when a token value of 1 was passed into the Custom Code and then show the operator when a value of 0 is passed into the Custom Code. Depending on your process I would just include switch_hideshape(Model.find("Transporter1...), 1) when your operator "exits" the forklift. and when he "enters" the forklift use the same code but with 0.


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1606328455625.png (52.3 KiB)
Patrick Cloutier avatar image Patrick Cloutier zacharyh ♦ commented ·

Wow. It works and the illusion is almost perfect ! Only missing the guy actually climbing and sitting in the truck. Something for version 2022 !

Thanks,

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