Injection Molding model

Hello Everyone,
My name is Mohan. I recently started to use flexsim, and wanted to clarify my doubts one by one as I get familiar with the software.
My question is, Is it possible to use the 3d model (say of an injection molding machine) as a processor instead actually using a processor.

If an operator is to use a hand operated trolley to take items from machine to shipping, is there a model to load or is it command based.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Mohan

The easiest thing to do would be to use a standard processor and change the 3D shape properties to that of the Injection moulding Machine.

There is a thread regarding an operator with a hand truck please see below

Hand Operated Trolley Thread

Hope this Helps

Anth

And check out the 3D shapes section of the downloads section. There are injection moulding machines present there.

Thanks Anth, that really helps

Hi again,

I wanted to know if there is any way we can distribute the items through the processors at random and still keep track of which item is going through what processor?

Thanks
Mohan

Hi,

To distribute the items randomly through the processors you can use the SendToPort trigger of the object in front of the processors (probably a queue). Here you can choose the option "Random Port".

You can always ask the content or even the name of an item that is in a processor (getnodename(last(processor))). But if you want to have an overview of all the items that are in all the processors, I think it would be a good idea to make a global table. Then on the OnEntry trigger of all the procesoors you can change the table.

Good luck,

Rachid Kolfin

Thanks a lot. Also can you please tell me what to do when there are more than one item going into a processor and change the item type as soon as X number of parts are processed?

Hi,

I am not sure if I know what you mean. What you can do is add a lable to the processor and on the OnEntry of this processor you increase the value of the lable. When this lable has reached a certain value you can can write the information to your table. Do not forget to reset the value of the lable.

I hope that this is more or less what you are looking for.

Good luck,

Rachid Kolfin

Hi Rachid.

I am trying to build a job shop model of an injection molding shop. what I want to particularly simulate is sending raw materials to processor for say 1000 parts at a process time of 30 seconds and after the count is reached send materials from the same source to the same processor to process a different part of 1500 in quantity and 60 seconds process time.

If I use the label I will have to reset the whole simulation every time the part quantity is reached. But is there a way to run it without resetting and gather the data for a continuous run of say 1 week.

I hope I was clear enough. I will appreciate any help in this regard.

Mohan

Mohan,

From what I understand you can still use the same idea. The only thing is that you would need more lables. One for the current count of items that have passed the processor and one for the quantity that has to be reached. Each time your counting lable has reached the same value as the otherone you can reset the counting lable to 0 and set the quantity lable to another value. You could do this by following values from a preset table.

Accordingly to this you can link the procestime of your processor to the current value of the quantity lable (for example by using case statements).

Good luck,

Rachid Kolfin

Is this any help. I may have made it too simple?

Thanks Anthony, Rachid. I really appreciate your help.

Anthony, Can you please tell me if in your model suppose there are 4 item types

1 & 2 go into one processor, 3 &4 go into another. how do I do it? and can I still be using only one separator, or best none?

Also I wanted to know if I add a transporter to your model is it possible to know how many parts of each item it transported from queue to sink (i.e increasing the batch size) in say 0-500 run time. The reason I am asking is I was wondering if it is possible to record the part count from the processor and transporter to identify possible bottle necks.

Hoping for a reply. Thank you in advance

Mohan

Hi

I've added a bit more. I hope this is what you were looking for. Theres a couple of tables to count the number of parts each machine makes and how many of each type of part are made. I've added a transporter also.

You can access a lot of statistics on each object by going into the properties. You should be able to see how busy the machines and transporters are by doing this.

Note - I had a problem trying to create the labels on the part schedule for the 2 extra part types I have added, so I had to create 3 labels just to be able to write data to 2 of them. Hence the third label is not being used. Not sure if this is a common bug or not.

Anth

Hi Anth,

You are a life saver, now I get the whole picture on how to carry out the simulation. Mine is a little big simulation but I think I can interpret the rest of the data.

thanks for helping me out. I will share my simulation as it progresses.

Mohan

Hey Anth

One question, I'm sorry I am asking so many..
In your model the batch quantities of the products are specified, so the processors are suppose to send the same to their respective queues, and the sinks are bound to count the inputs.

My question is what are the primary uses of the tables molded and build because their data neither equals quantity in the batch nor the the cycle times of the processers. like for the molded table at exit trigger what value does it reflect, same goes for the build table.

Also is there any way I can hold the queue until say 1000 parts for each and then the transporter takes it to sink.

Hope for your reply..Thanks in advance

Mohan

The Build table shows how many parts of each type have gone to the sink.

The Moulded table shows the total number parts produced by each machine.

To batch the parts together at the queue, set the queue to batching and you will also need to change how many parts the transporter can carry to suit the batch size you want.

Anth

so will i be able to change the shape of those batched parts into say a loaded pallet and transport?

Thanks
Mohan

I would replace the queues with combiners and load the parts on to a pallet there and then transport them. THis will hadnle the batching issue for you as you can specify how many parts on a pallet.