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CHAPTER 8
BASIC CONVEYOR SYSTEM
• Introduction
• Set Up
• Create Part Classes
• Create a Source
• Drawing the Conveyor System Layout
• Create Conveyor Using Library Method
• Create Conveyor Using Layout Method
• Create Machines
• Create Sinks
• Create Buffer
• Connect the Elements
• Save the Model
• Run the Simulation

Introduction
This lesson will introduce the basic modelling constructs used in developing a basic
conveyor system in a QUEST simulation model. In this tutorial, the concepts of part,
source, sink, buffer, and machine are used in association with different conveyor
modelling constructs. The exercise involves building a conveyor system that services
two parallel workstations. Some system defaults will be used throughout this lesson to
demonstrate the ease with which QUEST models can be built.

Set Up
1. Select the maximize button at the top right-hand corner to enlarge the QUEST
window. Select the same button in the QUEST 3D window to maximize the work
area window.

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2.

If QUEST was used previous to starting this model building session, the QUEST
world should be cleared and reset. To do this, select File | Clear World. When
prompted with ? Clear World ?, select Yes to confirm this selection.

3. While QUEST is clearing the system, the message window will display
"Reinitializing the System ..." When this is finished, the message window will display
"World cleared".

4. The next step is to Reset the world. Select File | Reset World. When prompted
with ?Reset World?, select Yes to confirm the selection.

5.

The proper time units need to be set. To do this, select Run | Simulate | Time Units.
Complete the Time Units dialog box as shown and click on OK.

6.

The proper distance units need to be set. To do this, select Tools | Measure | Units.
Choose the appropriate units as shown and click on OK.

Create Part Classes

Two part classes to be used in this model will be created.

1. Select Model | Build | Part Class | Create/Modify. The Part Class dialog box
appears. Enter Part1 for Name and click on OK.

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2. For creating the other part class, repeat the previous step and assign Part2 as the
part class name. Select the Attributes button on the Part Class Display dialog box to
assign a different color. Choose a color and click on OK. Click on OK on the Part
Class Display and Part Class dialog boxes.

Create a Source
One source will be created for this model to serve as the mechanism by which the
parts can enter the model.

1. Select Model | Build | Element Class | Source. The Source dialog box appears. Use
default settings and enter the class name as Source1. Do NOT click on OK.

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The inter-arrival time (IAT) of the parts, Part1 and Part2 as created by the source, Source_1,
will be defined next. Select the IAT button from the Source dialog box. Choose Normal
from the Distributions display list and click on OK. The Normal dialog box will appear.
Enter a Mean value of 20 and a Standard Deviation value of 4.

Click on OK on the Normal dialog box.

Part Fractions will be defined for Source1. Parts Part1 and Part2 arrive in equal proportions
at Source1. Select Part Fractions from the Source1 dialog box. Enter a value of 1.0 for
both Part1 and Part2 to indicate that equal proportions of both parts arrive at this source.

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Click on OK in the Part Class Fractions and the Source dialog boxes. The message window
prompts "Select a location on the floor/2D Window for <Source1_1>". Pick a location on
the floor. Source1_1 will appear in that location. Element Source1_1 of class Source1 is
created.

2. Change the grid size. Select Pref | Preferences | Grid. The Grid dialog box
appears. Enter 25 for Number and enter 3 for spacing. Click on OK.

NOTE: When setting the grid size and spacing for a model, be sure to place an element into the
model first, that is BEFORE, changing or setting the grid size and spacing. If this is not done, the
system has no point of reference and the grid size and spacing will return to the last default used
as soon as an element or part is added to the model.

3. Change view and camera specs. From the world display buttons, select View. The
User View Ops dialog box appears. Choose Standard Views, click on OK, choose
Top on the Standard Views dialog box and click on OK. When the Standard Views
dialog box appears again click on Cancel.

Select the Camera button. The Camera Options dialog box appears. Choose Camera Specs
and click on OK. Toggle the Projection to Orthographic. Click on OK.

Refer to Figure 8-1 for the positions of the various model elements to be created in
this model.

4. Use the world display buttons at the bottom of the screen (Rotate, Cruise, View,
etc.) to reorient the screen view in order to get an overall picture of the working grid.

To move the source to the proper position in the layout, select Model | Build | Element |
Trn. Use the LMB to move Source1 along the X-axis or the MMB to move it along the
Y-axis, or both mouse buttons until it is located at the desired position as indicated by
Figure 8-1.

Drawing the Conveyor System Layout

Begin building the model by laying out the entire conveyor system. Refer to Figure
8-1 for the names and relative positions of the various conveyor segments in the
system. There are two methods for creating conveyors, the library method and the
layout method.

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Figure 8-1 QUEST Basic Conveyor Model Overview

Create Conveyor Using Library Method

The library method of conveyor creation relies on existing geometry in libraries to
assemble a conveyor system. This is done by snapping together predefined sections to
represent a system.

1. Select Model | Build | Element Class | Conveyor. The Conveyor dialog box
appears. Enter Conveyor1 for the name of this conveyor . Select Conveyor Info from
the dialog box. Enter 0.5 for speed and click on OK.

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2. Select Display from the Conveyor dialog box. Select 3D File from the Display
dialog box. Choose Select from Library from the Geometry Selection dialog box
and click on OK.

Choose roll.straight from the ..\QUESTlib\PARTS\GIFTS\CONVEYORS\ directory. Click

on the directory/file name required and click on Open in the Select File dialog box.

Click on OK in the Display and Conveyor dialog boxes. The message prompts "Select a
location on the floor/2D window for <Conveyor1_1>". Pick a location on the floor and
Conveyor1_1 appears. Element Conveyor1_1 of class Conveyor1 is created.

3. Refer to Figure 8-1 for the positions of the various model elements to be created in
this model. Use the world display buttons at the bottom of the screen (Rotate, Cruise,
View, etc.) to reorient the screen view in order to get an overall picture of the working
grid.

4. Move the conveyor to the proper position in the layout. Select Model |Build |
Element | Trn. Conveyor1_1 is highlighted. Use the LMB to move it along the
X-axis, or the MMB to move it along the Y-axis, or use both mouse buttons until it is
located at the desired position as indicated by Figure 8-1. Reorient by using Trn or
Rot as applicable.

Create Conveyor Using Layout Method

The layout method of creating a conveyor allows the user to describe conveyors by
using a point-and-click method for determining conveyor length and orientation. This
method defines a centerline for the conveyor. QUEST then extrudes a user-defined
cross section through the centerline to create 3D conveyor geometry very quickly.

1. Select Model | Layout | Create System | Conv. The Extr_Conveyor dialog box
appears. Enter Extr_Conveyor1 for the name of this conveyor segment. Select
Conveyor Info from the dialog box. Enter 0.5 for speed, set the Type to Non-
accumulating and click on OK. Click on OK on the Extr_Conveyor dialog box.

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2. Set up the method for creating arcs and the elevation of the conveyor. Select Model
| Layout | Layout | Setup. The Layout Setup dialog box appears. Choose Angle-
Radius for the Arc Mode and enter 0.0 for the Elevation and Always New for
Extruded Pipe/Conveyor Class. This will cause each conveyor segment to be a
different Element Class . Click on OK.

3. Indicate points to define the beginning and end of an individual conveyor. Select
Model | Layout | Layout | Line. Refer to Figure 8-1. Use the LMB to pick a point on
the screen to define the left side of Extr_Conveyor1. With the LMB, select the Rel
Button. The Rel Coords dialog box appears. Enter 40 for the X value. Click on OK.

4. Create a second conveyor system, named Extr_Conveyor2, as in step 1.

5. Select Model | Layout | Layout | Line.

Decision Point on Conveyor

NOTE: The use of the MMB in the next step is very important. It will correctly position the new
segment's geometry, create the decision point on the original segment, and will provide the
connection between this decision point and the new segment.

With the MMB, pick Extr_Conveyor1_1 where it will intersect with Extr_Conveyor2_1.
With the MMB, select the Rel button. Enter 10 for the Y value. Click on OK.

6. Create conveyor system Extr_Conveyor3 as in step 1.

7. Select Model | Layout | Layout | Arc. With the RMB, select the end of
Extr_Conveyor2, so that this segment starts from the end. The Arc Parameters dialog

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box will the appear. Change the settings to match those shown below and click on
OK.

8. Similarly, create the fourth conveyor system, Extr_Conveyor4. Use the line method
to create this new segment so that the end of this segment lines up with the end of
Extr_Conveyor1_1. With the RMB, pick the end of Extr_Conveyor3_1, so that the
fourth segment starts at the end of the third.

9. Assign logic for unloading the conveyor. Select Model | Layout | Decpoint | Conv.
Choose Cnv_Dec_Pt1 from the Select Element Class dialog box. The Cnv_Dec_Pt
dialog box appears. Select Logics from the dialog box. Select Process Logic from the
Logics dialog box. The Cnv Dec Process Logic dialog box appears. From this dialog
box select Unload Fixed and click on OK. Click on OK on the Logics dialog box.

10. Select the Unloading button from the Cnv_Dec_Pt dialog box. The Unloading
Info dialog box appears. Select the Fixed button and change the settings in the Fixed
Routing Info dialog box to match those shown below and click on OK.

11. Click on OK on the Unloading Info and Cnv_Dec_Pt dialog boxes.

12. Use the layout method to create the remaining conveyors shown in Figure 8-1.

NOTE: Use the RMB when creating the start of a conveyor segment that is linked to the end of an
existing conveyor segment. This will ensure the correct positioning of the new segment's geometry
and will create the connection between the two segments.

Create Machines
Parts will be created at the source, moved onto the conveyor system, and processed on
one of two machine elements. The machines will be created next.

1. Select Model | Build | Element Class | Machine. The Machine dialog box appears.
Name the machine class Machine 1 and use default settings for the remaining fields.

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2. Select Cycle Process in the Machine dialog box to define the cycle time of the
machine. Choose New Process in the Select Process dialog box and click on OK.

In the Cycle Process Definition dialog box enter Process_1 for the Name and select the
Cycle Time button. From the Distribution display list, choose Uniform and click on OK.
Enter a Minimum Value of 5 sec and a Maximum Value of 15 sec in the Uniform dialog
box and click on OK. Click on OK in the Cycle Process Definition dialog box and in the
Machine dialog box. When prompted, select a location on the floor to place this machine as
shown in Figure 8-1.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the second machine class, Machine2. Use default settings
and the same cycle time as that assigned to machine class Machine 1.

4. Machine2_1 will be located on top of Machine1_1. Refer to Figure 8-1 for the
positions of the various model elements to be created in this model and move the
machines to their proper positions in the layout.

Create Sinks
Two sinks will be created for this model to serve as the mechanism by which the two
classes of parts can exit from the model.

1. Select Model | Build | Element Class | Sink. The Sink dialog box will appear.
Name this Sink1 and use default settings for the other fields. Click on OK. When
prompted, pick a location on the floor to place the sink.

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2. Repeat the previous step to create a second sink class, Sink2. Use default settings.
Move the sinks to their proper positions in the layout as shown in Figure 8-1.

Create Buffer
Buffers are created to prevent parts from blocking elements due to differences in
cycle and inter-arrival times. Three buffers will be created for this model: one
between Source1_1 and the entry conveyor, Conveyor1_1; a second between the exit
conveyor, Extr_Conveyor8_1 and Sink1_1; and the third between the other exit
conveyor, Extr_Conveyor7_1 and Sink2_1.

1. Select Model | Build | Element Class | Buffer. The Buffer dialog box appears. Use
default settings and name this buffer Buffer1. Click on OK. When prompted, pick a
location on the floor for the buffer.

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2. Create two more buffers as in step 1. Enter the names Buffer2 and Buffer3,
respectively and use default settings. Be sure to pick a location on the floor for each
buffer, when prompted.

3. Move the buffers to their proper positions in the layout as shown in the Figure 8-1.

Connect the Elements

Having defined the basic process elements in the system, the next step in the model
building process is to define the proper sequence, that is, the flow of parts through the
system. Logical connections are made between the elements and this is accomplished
by the following steps:

1. Select Model | Build | Connections | Element. The message window will prompt
for a starting element. Pick Source1. When the message window prompts for an
ending element, pick Buffer1.

2. Refer to Figure 8-1 and continue the connection process to complete more
sequences as follows:

• Source1_1 -> Buffer1_1 -> Conveyor1_1 -> Extr_Conveyor1_1

• Extr_Conveyor4_1 -> Machine2_1 -> Extr_Conveyor5_1
• Extr_Conveyor7_1 -> Buffer3_1 -> Sink2_1
• Extr_Conveyor1_1 -> Machine1_1 -> Extr_Conveyor8_1 -> Buffer2_1 -> Sink1_1

The decision point on Extr_Conveyor1 should have been connected to Extr_Conveyor2 as

part of the conveyor creation process. Use the Model | Build | Connections | Show buttons

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to verify the connection. If the decision point is not connected, use the Model | Build |
Connections | Element buttons to connect the decision point to Extr_Conveyor2_1.

Save the Model

It is good practice to save the model periodically during the model building process.
Select File | Save Model. The File Name dialog box appears. Enter the file name
convey.mdl for this model and click on OK.

Run the Simulation

1. The time interval for the simulation has to be specified. Select Run | Simulate |
Simulation | Interval. Set the Anim On Step Size to 8 sec in the Simulation Time
Interval dialog box and click on OK.

2. To run the model, select Run | Simulate | Simulation | Run. The Run dialog box
will appear. The run time is preset at 1000.0 seconds. The simulation will run to this
time and terminate. Leave all settings at default and click on OK. The simulation will
begin. When time 1000.0 seconds is reached, the simulation run will stop and the
message "Simulation Run Complete" will appear in the message window.

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