How to process multiple flow items at once

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Eric R6 asked Oct 15, '20 Parker S commented Oct 21, '20

How to process multiple flow items at once

Hello,

In the attached file I am trying to model the following scenario. In this scenario parts come out of Source1 every 37 minutes into Queue2. Once there are two boxes in Queue2 Operator1 picks them up and follows the Network Nodes to the processor Robot. Those 2 boxes would be processed at the same time for 9 minutes in the Robot. Then Operator2 would pick up both boxes and move them to Queue1. In the meantime there are boxes flowing from the Source_Build every 45 minutes and being processed by the Robot for 12.5 minutes.

I am having trouble with 2 things. The first is how to get the set of 2 boxes to be processed at the same time in the robot. The second is how to keep Operator1 from walking through the Robot while it is processing the box from Build.

I have tried using a combiner, but didn't for the 2 box scenario, but struggled to figure out how to do the singe item coming from Build.

Software Version:

FlexSim 20.1.0

flexsim 20.1.0 multiprocessor

· 3

Parker S ♦ commented · Oct 16, 2020 at 01:26 AM

Hi @Eric R6

Can you attach your model?

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Eric R6 Parker S ♦ commented · Oct 16, 2020 at 03:03 AM

Good evening @Parker S. Thank you for the heads up. I didn't realize until now that the model was too large to attach. I am currently sitting at 27.2 MB. I am trying to find a way to get it smaller. This is a snip I took of the line. I had added in custom geometry for the Robot processor, which I deleted and replaced with the standard processor. I will keep trying to get the model size smaller so it can be attached.

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Eric R6 Eric R6 commented · Oct 16, 2020 at 03:17 AM

I ended up having to create a new file without the imported 3d geometry. But here is the model that I am working with. The image in my previous post gives an idea of what the cell would look like and how Operator 1 could pass through it as long as it was not currently processing.

Test File 3.fsm

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test-file-3.fsm (47.8 KiB)

Answer 1 · 2020-10-16T15:48:14Z

Parker S answered Oct 16, '20 Parker S commented Oct 21, '20

Eric,

There were a couple errors in your model that I've ignored for now but we can look at them later if needed (I'm guessing these are errors in the test file that are not in your original model).

1. The easiest way to have a processor process two items at once is change the max content to 2 in the processor settings. If there are two items coming from a queue or carried over by the operator, the processor will take them both.

2. To keep the operator from walking through objects, you need to make sure the operator is connected to your travel network and that your network path does not cross through the objects. A-connect your operator to just one of the network nodes in the network, this allows the operator to travel anywhere on the network.

Another way to do this is to take out the travel network altogether and use A-star navigation which you've added to the test model. Double click the A* icon in the 3D model to access it's properties and add the operator to the "Traveler Members" and all objects you wanted to be avoided to the "FR Members".

I've attached the test model demonstrating these things:

support_test-file-3.fsm

Let me know if you have any other questions. I hope this helps!

support-test-file-3.fsm (48.0 KiB)

· 4

Eric R6 commented · Oct 16, 2020 at 06:14 PM

Hey Parker,

Thank you for the heads up on changing the max content, that should solve that problem. The part that I am struggling with on the Operator walking through the processor is that in real life the cell allows for things to be passed through. So while that cell is unloaded (not processing or waiting to be unloaded) Operator1 in my scenario would be able to walk through it. The path that they follow is what I was trying to model in the file. Below are some pictures showing what I am trying to model.

In this case Operator1 is transporting the 2 red boxes to the processor "Robot". At this time there is a green box being processed in the "Robot" so Operator1 cannot enter the cell to load the red boxes.

Once the green box has finished processing Operator1 can load the 2 red boxes into the processor "Robot".

Once the processing is complete Operator1 can pickup the 2 red boxes and move them to Queue1.

If the "Robot" is processing another Green box Operator1 cannot return to Queue2. If the "Robot" is open (not processing or waiting to be unloaded) then Operator1 is free to return to Queue2. Does this help to clarify what I am trying to model?

Thank you!

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snip4.png (251.8 KiB)

Parker S ♦ Eric R6 commented · Oct 16, 2020 at 09:00 PM

Eric,

This may be a start:

suppport_test-file-3_v2.fsm

I've added a decide and wait for event activity before the travel activities that checks if there is at least one item being processed by the Robot. If there is no item, the operator travels freely, if there is an item/items, the operator will wait until the Robot is done processing all items.

This could easily be converted to a sub flow if you need to have it multiple places in your process flow.

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suppport-test-file-3-v2.fsm (53.0 KiB)

Eric R6 Parker S ♦ commented · Oct 19, 2020 at 09:31 PM

suppport-test-file-3-v2.fsm

Good evening Parker,

Thank you for the feedback. That seems to be handling the movement properly. I am trying to add in having Operator1 take the 2 red boxes from Queue2 and drop them off in Robot to be processed. Then pick those 2 boxes up and drop them off in Queue1.

Things I have tried so far. I attached NN23 to Robot. I then added another Travel/Move Object set to the process flow. This adds another step in the middle to have Operator one pick up the 2 red boxes and drop them off at Robot. When I run the simulation Operator1 sets 1 red box in Robot and it starts processing. The other red box ends up under the Build2 Processor (shown below) and never gets processed anywhere. The other problem I am having is the first red box ends up in Queue3. When everything is working properly Queue3 should have only green boxes and Queue4 should only have red boxes.

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suppport-test-file-3-v2.fsm (62.5 KiB)

snip5.png (168.6 KiB)

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