FlexSim Supplemental Training: Session 3

1. FlexSim Supplemental Training: Session 3 20121029

2. Modeling Concepts • Closing and Opening Output/Input Ports • Sending Messages to alter object behavior 2

3. Basic Object Control • closeinput( object )openinput(object ) • stopinput( object )resumeinput(object ) • closeoutput(object ) openoutput(object ) • stopoutput(object ) resumeoutput(object ) • stopobject( object ) resumeobject( object ) • sendmessage( toobject, fromobject, parameter1, parameter2, parameter3 ) • senddelayedmessage( toobject, delaytime, fromobject, parameter1, parameter2, parameter3 ) 3

4. Close/Open Commands • Close • closeinput( object ) – Blocks input ports of object. Indicated by small, red bars drawn across all input ports. • closeoutput(object ) – Blocks output ports of object. Indicated by small, red bars drawn across all output ports. • Open • openinput(object ) – Unblocks input ports of object. • openoutput(object ) – Unblocks output ports of object. • It is recommended to use the open commands in the OnMessagetrigger only [using senddelayedmessage()]. It will work in other cases, but there could be issues because these commands do some work behind the scenes. 4

5. Stop/Resume Commands • Stop • stopinput( object ) – Same as closeinput(), except it keeps track of consecutive stopinput() commands. Will only open input ports after all stops have been resumed. • stopoutput(object ) – Same as closeouput(), except it accumulates as well. Will only open ouput ports after all stops have been resumed. • stopobject( object ) – Tells object to stop functioning. Will specify a state for the object to go into while waiting for resumeobject() [helpful for statistics]. Also accumulates. Good resource on stopobject() and resumeobject() in Command list of User Manual. • Resume • resumeinput(object ) – Same as openinput(), except it accumulates. Input ports are unblocked after all stops have been resumed. • resumeoutput(object ) –Same as openoutput(), except it accumulates as well. Ouput ports are unblocked after all stops have been resumed. • resumeobject( object ) – Tells object to resume to what it was doing before stopobject() was called. Also accumulates. 5

6. Messages • message– information sent from one object to another. • When an object receives a message, its OnMessage trigger is fired. • Messages can be sent immediately with the sendmessage() command, or after a specified period of time using senddelayedmessage(). 6

7. Order of Execution(Messages) OnMessage trigger of receiving object sendmessage() OnMessage trigger of receiving object delay senddelayedmessage() Is there a difference between a message sent immediately and delayed in zero time? 7

8. The OnMessage Trigger • Trigger logic fires as a reaction to the sent message. Parsing the received data dictates behavior • Access Variables • current • msgsendingobject() • msgparam(1) • msgparam(2) • msgparam(3) • Object receiving the message • Object that sent the message • First numeric data sent • Second numeric data sent • Third numeric data sent 8

9. Model Description • Purpose • Learn how to control product flow and send delayed messages. • Description • Assume an infinite supply of A and B components. • The two components must be glued together with epoxy which takes lognormal2(0,2.6,0.8) seconds. • The assembled parts must wait in a staging area for at least 15 seconds for the epoxy to cure before they can enter the paint booth. • It takes lognormal2(0,2.5,0.5) seconds to paint each part separately. • After each part is painted and exits the paint booth, the booth must be purged for 3 seconds before another part can enter. • Questions & Bonus • What is the average and maximum time a part waits in queue? • How does throughput change if 10 parts can be curing simultaneously? 9

10. Model A1 Layout 10